Gaslit Nation: When the World Calls You Crazy for Seeing Reality
Which way are we going? Photo by: 愚木混株 cdd20 Unsplash
What In The Actual Hell?
The supposed reason for the recent Trump-Zelenskyy meeting was to discuss peace, but—unsurprisingly—it came with a price. The U.S. wants access to Ukrainian minerals as part of the deal. Because, of course, for the United States, nothing is truly about “helping” unless there’s something in it for us. A war-torn nation fighting for survival, and the U.S. is focused on securing a contract to mine their lithium, graphite, uranium, and rare earth elements—resources deemed 'critical' for economic growth and national security. AKA: China controls the supply, and the U.S. wants out from under them.
But instead of focusing on Russia’s ongoing invasion, thousands of deaths, or Ukraine’s desperate need for support, the headlines were about a suit.
The Zelenskyy Suit Debacle.
As the meeting went south, a reporter, clearly aiming for his viral moment, asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy why he wasn’t wearing a suit. Then doubled down with "Do you even own a suit?" As if the man hasn’t been leading a country that’s literally fighting for survival since 2022.
Meanwhile, Elon Musk—a billionaire with zero political expertise—sat next to Trump at a desk in a t-shirt, and no one batted an eye. He regularly shows up to formal political events looking like the head roadie for a heavy metal band, sporting cheap T-shirts with slogans like 'Tech Support' and his signature black MAGA hat in a Germanic thrash-metal font. And yet, somehow, this is never a crisis.
And when the White House was asked about the blatant double standard between Musk and Zelenskyy, press secretary Karoline Leavitt—bubbly, smiling, and a skilled liar in her own right—dodged the question entirely. Her response? 'Elon Musk wore a suit last night. I’m sure you saw it.' Classic gaslighting: ignore the issue, pretend reality isn’t what it is, and move on.
It’s not about the suit. It never was. It’s about undermining Zelenskyy while letting the “right” people get away with anything.
And the best part? That same hack reporter, Brian Glenn of Sky News, is dating Marjorie Taylor Greene—who recently declared that federal employees don’t deserve their jobs. You know, despite cashing her own federal paycheck—funded by our tax dollars.
"And if that wasn’t enough, J.D. Vance started demanding that Zelenskyy apologize. As if he hasn’t already. As if his country being bombed to hell isn’t enough of a sacrifice. But for bullies like Vance, some people can never apologize enough. Never grovel enough. They have to kiss the ring, keep proving their worth, and show endless gratitude—while others get a free pass.
For highly sensitive people, perfectionists, and those who have spent a lifetime being told they should be grateful just to exist, this hits deep. How many times have we been made to feel like we have to prove we deserve space? That our pain isn’t valid unless we make it palatable? That our survival is somehow a privilege?
This is gaslighting in action.
Political Gaslighting 101: How They Make You Doubt Reality
Gaslighting isn’t just a personal tactic—it’s a political strategy. Here’s how it works:
Deny the obvious. When people push back, pretend their reality is false. (”Zelenskyy is so disrespectful!”)
Distract from real issues. Instead of talking about war, fascism, or democracy, we’re debating whether a wartime president should be wearing Hugo Boss.
Move the goalposts. Trump in sweatpants? Musk in a T-shirt? “He’s just a man of the people.” A Democrat in anything less than a three-piece suit? “No respect for the office.”
Make people question their own reactions. (‘Am I overreacting? Maybe the suit thing really does matter?’) No—it’s a distraction. That’s the point.
And for a lot of us, this kind of gaslighting isn’t new. It’s been in our heads since childhood:
"You're overreacting."
"Don't be so sensitive."
"I never said that."
If you grew up hearing those lines, it makes political gaslighting even more disorienting—because it hits where we’ve already been conditioned to doubt ourselves. This is especially true for highly sensitive people, LGBTQIA+ folks, and anyone who has spent a lifetime being told they are “too much” or “not enough.”
As a highly sensitive, straight-presenting bi+ queer person, I know how deep these narratives run. The internal gaslighting doesn’t stop just because we see through it.
Am I too… straight-looking?
Have I really suffered enough to speak up?
Is my experience “queer enough” to count?
These same doubts—this constant questioning of identity, belonging, and worth—are weaponized at a national level to keep people second-guessing reality.
How Gaslighting is Playing Out Right Now
The Town Hall Distraction: “Dems Are Infiltrating!!!”
Republicans are claiming Democrats are crashing their town halls (as if their own voters aren’t turning against them). Meanwhile, Fox News is repeating it like it’s fact. The gaslighting? The right is losing control, so they’re framing the outrage as "outsiders stirring up trouble."
Trans People Purged from the Military
Biden lifted Trump’s trans military ban, but now we’re seeing a quiet purge through waivers that require trans service members to de-transition or prove “stability” in their assigned sex at birth. The gaslighting? “No one is banning trans people.” But if you force de-transitioning and create impossible barriers, it’s a ban in disguise.
Ohio’s Anti-Trans Crackdown & Nationwide Attacks
Ohio just passed extreme anti-trans laws, banning gender-affirming care and restricting rights. Other states are following suit—using fear to force trans people into hiding. The gaslighting? They claim these laws “protect children” while rolling back child labor protections and attacking social safety nets.
Erasing LGBTQIA+ Existence
The new Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, just ordered the removal of thousands of DEI-related images—including anything that even contains the word “gay.” They claim it’s about “woke ideology,” but it’s straight-up historical erasure. The gaslighting? “We’re not targeting LGBTQIA+ people,” while literally deleting evidence of their contributions to the military.
The Emotional Toll of Being Gaslit by the News
If you feel exhausted, confused, and pissed off all at once, congratulations—you’re paying attention. Political gaslighting warps your sense of reality, making you question things that should be obvious.
For highly sensitive, justice-driven people, this is maddening. Every time we call out the lies, we’re met with fake civility, fake outrage, or straight-up denial. The goal is to make us feel crazy so we’ll shut up.
But here’s the thing: We are not crazy. They are full of shit.
And that’s the whole point—gaslighting isn’t just about deception, it’s about breaking people down.
Final Thought: This Isn’t Chaos, It’s Control
They need us to feel scared. They need us to feel confused. Because the moment we stop questioning ourselves, we start fighting back.
The world wants you to doubt yourself. To feel exhausted. To disengage.
Don’t.
The more they gaslight us, the more it proves they’re afraid of us seeing the truth. And that means we’re doing something right.
Disclaimer: This blog shares my reflections on mental health but is not a substitute for therapy. The advice is general and may not fit everyone. If you're struggling, please seek support from a licensed mental health professional.
