Howard Stern diagnoses Trump's 'narcissism': He was ‘traumatized’ in childhood and needs therapy

Radio host Howard Stern told CNN’s Anderson Cooper in an interview this week that President Donald Trump experienced a traumatic childhood and probably needed psychotherapy to recover.

Stern has known Trump for decades and frequently interviewed him on his show before he entered politics. In his new book, Howard Stern Comes Again, he details some of his experiences with Trump.

“From what I know of Donald and his relationship with his father, it sounds traumatic. It sounds like the father was very domineering. The father expected a lot of him. And the father, I don’t know, there was military school. You know, you read these drips and drabs and you go wow,” Stern explained.

“I can assure you he’s been traumatized. Because, you know, Donald, you know, his level of narcissism is so strong. He has troubled with empathy. We know that. And I wish he’d go into psychotherapy. I’d be so proud of him if he did, and he would flourish.”

But Stern said there was “no way” that Trump would actually ever attend psychotherapy sessions.

He also told Cooper that he doesn’t believe Trump enjoys being president.

“I don’t think he likes being president at all. I think he liked winning the presidency. He likes to win. And, again, I’m not Donald Trump’s psychotherapist and I had many good laughs with Donald,” Stern said.

“And in some ways I feel that he has been wronged the way they used my transcripts in a way to frame him. And I’ll give you an example. When he said the line about STDs being his Vietnam, that was a very jokey thing on my show.”

“If you went back and listen to the tape, you would not take that seriously. He was in the spirit of the program. And then he was, you know, they tried to use that against him, ‘Hey, he’s being — how dare he compare himself to a veteran of the Vietnam War who served when he didn’t serve.’ All right, everybody take a deep breath and relax,” Stern added.

“But having said that, the stuff I put in the book I think is very revealing about our now president and there’s something to be learned there.”