From the perspective of political pathology, Maggie Haberman's (photo to the left above) book Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump (currently number one on the New York Times best sellers list) depicts something close to the embodiment of the state in the leader. Trump’s injuries become national grievances, his enemies become enemies of the government, his enrichment becomes indistinguishable from presidential prestige, and monuments to the nation become monuments to himself.

Richard Koenigsberg (photo to the right above) of The Foundation for the Study of Political Pathology analyzes Donald Trump's symbolic relationship with the American flag. Drawing on the concept of "symbiosis"—the experience of oneness with objects like one's nation—he argues that Trump's intimate embrace of the flag conveys a fantasy of unity between himself and America. The image suggests that Trump's popularity stems from his ability to equate himself with the nation.