The bully who pulls the levers of Trump’s mind never learns

Some people never grow out of their inner bully. Some choose not to move on from victimizing behavior. And some are forever defined by insecurities that lead to the need to browbeat those who might outshine them. To be sure, many Americans have come to view former President TrumpDonald TrumpHillicon Valley — State Dept. employees targets of spyware Ohio Republican Party meeting ends abruptly over anti-DeWine protesters Jan. 6 panel faces new test as first witness pleads the Fifth MORE as such a bully.      

Rather than argue a case on its merits or point out the missteps of a person’s actions or opinion, Trump often resorts to schoolyard name-calling. It’s a loathsome tactic by anyone trying to win an argument but particularly repugnant and demeaning coming from one who holds — or did hold — the nation’s highest office.

Trump recently put this knee-jerk reaction on display yet again when he went after three of his favorite targets: The Washington Post’s Bob Woodward and Robert Costa and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark MilleyMark MilleyOvernight Defense & National Security — US tries to deter Russian invasion of Ukraine National Guard Bureau chief tests positive for COVID-19 Ukraine says Russia has amassed more than 94,000 troops along border MORE. Woodward and Costa wrote about him in their book “Peril” and reported in that book that Milley called his counterpart in the People’s Republic of China to assure him there was no cause for alarm following the Jan. 6 breach of the Capitol. (Milley has said the calls were “routine.”)   

In a statement attacking the three men, Trump used words including “con man,” “lightweight lapdog assistant,” “craggy smug face” and “treason.”      

When we encounter name-calling and bullying by a 7-year-old in the schoolyard, we tend to excuse it as the behavior of an underdeveloped mind. When we experience it from a 75-year-old man who was president of the United States — to paraphrase the late Stephen Sondheim — it’s time to “Send in the Therapists.”

Irresponsibly attempting to attach the word “treason” to a decorated military leader such as Milley brings to mind Trump’s criticisms of the late Sen. John McCainJohn Sidney McCainGOP senators appalled by ‘ridiculous’ House infighting MSNBC’s Nicolle Wallace, Chris Christie battle over Fox News Trump’s attacks on McConnell seen as prelude to 2024 White House bid MORE (R-Ariz.). Of McCain’s loss to former President ObamaBarack Hussein ObamaGOP infighting takes stupid to a whole new level Politics must accept the reality of multiracial America and disavow racial backlash To empower parents, reinvent schools MORE in 2008, Trump said, “He lost. He let us down. … I never liked him as much after that. … I don’t like losers.” When reminded that McCain was a war hero, Trump responded, “He is not a war hero. … He is a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren’t captured.”   

For those who may have forgotten, McCain served as an officer in the U.S. Navy. As he was flying his 23rd combat mission over North Vietnam, his A4E Skyhawk was shot down. He…