[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3432 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3432
To direct the Director of the National Institutes of Health to conduct
or support research to advance the understanding of Trump Derangement
Syndrome, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 15, 2025
Mr. Davidson (for himself and Mr. Moore of Alabama) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and
Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Director of the National Institutes of Health to conduct
or support research to advance the understanding of Trump Derangement
Syndrome, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Trump Derangement Syndrome Research
Act of 2025'' or the ``TDS Research Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Trump Derangement Syndrome has been described as a
behavioral or psychological phenomenon involving intense
emotional or cognitive reactions to Donald J. Trump, his
actions, or his public presence, with early documented
references emerging during his 2016 presidential campaign.
(2) Notable early instances of TDS include certain media
coverage amplifying polarized responses to Donald J. Trump's
campaign rhetoric, which some observers cite as initial signs
of TDS, though precise origins remain understudied.
(3) Recurrent, selective reporting by media outlets,
emphasizing aspects of Donald J. Trump's actions or statements
while omitting broader context, has been alleged to contribute
to TDS by intensifying polarized public reactions and deepening
societal division.
(4) Frequent amplification of unverified or anonymously
sourced claims about Donald J. Trump's conduct has further
fueled TDS, driving significant public outrage and contributing
to heightened emotional responses among individuals and groups.
(5) The following two confirmed assassination attempts
against Donald J. Trump occurred in 2024:
(A) On July 13, 2024, at a campaign rally in
Butler, Pennsylvania, a shooter wounded Donald J.
Trump's ear, killed one attendee, and injured two
others.
(B) On September 15, 2024, at the Trump
International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, a
suspect was apprehended with a rifle and the incident
was investigated as an assassination attempt.
(6) Understanding TDS may contribute to broader insights
into political polarization, media influence, and psychological
responses to public figures, with implications for public
health and social cohesion.
(7) The National Institutes of Health, through its existing
programs, is well-positioned to study the psychological and
social factors underlying TDS, including its origins, media
influences, and potential links to extreme behaviors, to inform
public health strategies.
SEC. 3. NIH RESEARCH ON TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME WITHIN EXISTING
PROGRAMS.
(a) In General.--The Director of the National Institutes of Health,
through the existing programs and authorities of the National Institute
of Mental Health and other relevant institutes and centers, shall
conduct or support research to advance the understanding of Trump
Derangement Syndrome, including its origins, manifestations, and long-
term effects.
(b) Research Objectives.--The research conducted under subsection
(a) shall include--
(1) efforts to identify the initial emergence or earliest
documented cases (commonly referred to as ``patient zero'' or
index cases) of TDS, including historical and social analyses
to trace the onset of TDS;
(2) investigation of the long-term psychological, social,
or behavioral impacts of TDS on affected individuals,
communities, or public discourse;
(3) analysis of contributing factors, such as media
exposure, political polarization, or social dynamics, to the
development or spread of TDS; and
(4) exploration of potential interventions, coping
mechanisms, or strategies to mitigate adverse effects of TDS,
as applicable.
(c) Collaboration.--The Director shall collaborate with the heads
of other Federal agencies, academic institutions, and relevant
organizations, as appropriate, to achieve the objectives described in
subsection (b).
(d) Annual Report to Congress.--Not later than 2 years after the
date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Director
shall submit to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of
Representatives a report on--
(1) the progress of research conducted under this section;
(2) any findings related to the initial emergence or long-
term effects of TDS; and
(3) recommendations for further research or public health
actions.
SEC. 4. DEFINITION.
In this Act, the term ``Trump Derangement Syndrome'' or ``TDS''
refers to a behavioral or psychological phenomenon characterized by
intense emotional or cognitive reactions to Donald J. Trump, his
actions, or his public presence, as observed in individuals or groups.
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