119-hr3432

[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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