“Love your enemy” makes sense in a very specific context. What we notice in others are their behaviors. Many of these behaviors are horrible, even evil. The key point is that these behaviors evolved out of emotional and physical needs for protection and survival. We all develop and refine coping mechanisms during our lives to provide some illusion of control and protection. Over time, these can become our identity. But these are not who we are!

So, with Trump we see some of the most despicable behaviors in a so-called leader. Some of the origins of these behaviors are known, and others are obscure, even to him. Based on what we see, there is nothing to love in the man. However, at his core is a person who deserves love. Yes, that person has become mostly obscured over the years, but it is still there.

It’s also true that some individual’s maladaptive persona has become so evil that their death would benefit humanity. Hitler was one. Putin is one currently. Trump? That’s a matter of opinion. Maybe not at the present, but one can imagine a scenario in which that was true.

Two things can be true at the same time!