Gloria Rebecca Gomez | Arizona Mirror
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In predictable far-right fashion, one Arizona Republican lawmaker has taken a tired MAGA joke a little too far — and New Times readers pounced on the resulting absurd (if potentially dangerous) legislative stunt.
Ahead of the 2026 legislative session that will soon begin at the Arizona Capitol, state Sen. Janae Shamp filed a bill on Dec. 22 proposing Arizona’s government study “Trump Derangement Syndrome.” The term has become a favorite crack among MAGA acolytes to dismiss anyone who doesn’t fawn over the convicted felon napping through meetings at the White House. Essentially, the insult is low-key gaslighting: If you have a strong reaction to one of Trump’s lawless or cruel actions, well, that’s just you fixating on a guy who can’t get a fair shake because of his deranged critics.
Shamp’s bill would turn the joke into something more serious, bordering only the dystopian.
Shamp’s Senate Bill 1070 — which coincidentally shares a name with one of the most infamous bills in Arizona history — would require the state’s Department of Health Services to study the origins and long-term effects of this so-called syndrome, a condition with roughly as much scientific grounding as cooties. The department would have a year to present its findings or provide an update.
Will Humble, a former director of the department and current executive director of the nonprofit Arizona Public Health Association, dismissed the bill as a giant waste of time and resources for a state agency that already has plenty to keep it busy.
Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs is essentially guaranteed to veto the bill. But it makes one wonder: If she were to lose reelection to a Republican, might this be the kind of bill that gets signed into law?
It provides a broad definition of the newly proposed mental illness. Per Shamp, who is somehow a licensed nurse, TDS is “a behavioral or psychological phenomenon that is characterized by intense emotional or psychological reactions to Donald Trump, his actions for his public presence as observed individuals or groups.”
By this definition, readers noticed that “Trump Derangement Syndrome” could be equally applied to the intense, unbridled worship of Trump that characterizes much of the modern Republican Party.
Our readers didn’t miss a chance to dunk on the absurdity on display.
On Instagram, a user by the name of Shannon commented on the New Times story, “I think the ones with TDS are the people that wear his trash merch and worship him.”
“Is she volunteering as a research subject?” Christopher asked on Facebook. Similarly, a reader named Scott said, “Is this lady the first case to be studied?”
An account from St. Louis commented on Instagram, “The TDS is coming from inside the house.”
Also on the ‘gram, Lewis argued, “‘Trump Derangement Syndrome’ is what his supporters have. The rest of us have reality.”
Annie made a suggestion in response to the bill: “Why don’t we study political cults instead?”
Others took aim at Republicans’ willingness to believe anything the president says. “Tariffs will pay for the study,” David wrote on Facebook.
But our favorite came in the form of an email from Kenneth Jones, of Litchfield Park.
“It’s always ironic when sufferers of Trump Derangement Syndrome project it onto others. If it wasn’t for Trump and MAGA, Janae Shamp wouldn’t have a personality,” Jones wrote. “Shamp is ‘my’ state Senator for LD29. She’s got her head so far up Trump’s ass, Trump’s proctologist consults with her as a ‘specialist.’”
