A Svengali is a person who controls another’s mind, usually with sinister intent, based on the 1891 gothic-horror novel Trilby, by George du Maurier. A century later, in the 1950s and 60s, the CIA actually dabbled and experimented in mind control under the codename MKUltra.

The concept appears frequently in popular culture. Jason Bourne, a Robert Ludlum character, was programed by MKUltra. So too, allegedly,  was Ted Kaczynski, the Unabomber.

Today the master of mind control, also known as the “very stable” Svengali genius is none other than President Donald Trump. Simply by tweeting or eating a scoop of ice cream during a military strike, he can turn normally sane members of Congress and journalists into raving lunatics.

As a politician, especially one running for a second term as president with the election less than a year away, Trump’s life is a perpetual campaign.

How convenient for the incumbent president to use mind control on his political opponents to constantly campaign, not for themselves or their issues, but inadvertently for the president. It seems each inane utterance by the left creates another Trump voter or campaign contributor.

What’s more remarkable is that this modern-day Svengali is a political novice, a brash and at times crude real estate developer from New York City, where the only recent magic trick was their most famous prison detainee, under constant guard, on suicide precautions, somehow managing to kill himself. I don’t think even Houdini could pull off a trick like that.

The most recent example of the very stable Svengali’s mind control is his killing of Iranian terrorist mastermind General Qasem Soleimani and his sidekick Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

Who knew an American president killing a terrorist could work as a form of mind control? This meme, making the rounds on the internet, says it all.

When President Obama ordered the “assassination” of Osama Bin Laden, he was hailed as a hero. Even though Joe Biden can’t remember if he advised for or against that raid. Or where he was at the time. Or where he is today.

Even Trump’s recent killing of al-Baghdadi drew a neutral response from Democrats and the media. After all, why make a fuss since at the time they had the Ukraine phone call as the latest “bombshell” to take down Trump.

Now they have nothing, just a bogus partisan impeachment vote that is more like a joke without a punch line. They couldn’t let the Soleimani raid go without outrage. Yet in their outrage, Svengali Trump tricked them into defending Iran and terrorism.

The Washington Post referred to Soleimani as “Iran’s most revered military leader.” Sort of like a General MacArthur or Patton I suppose. Except they weren’t terrorists.

A few months ago, the Washington Post had similar praise for another terrorist butcher, al-Baghdadi, calling him an “austere religious scholar”. Sure, and Adolph Hitler was a promising Austrian artist.

Democrat candidates also had their hair on fire over an American missile visiting Soleimani. Spartacus Cory Booker moaned, “We have a president has had a failure in his Iranian policy, who has had no larger strategic plan, and has made that region less stable and less safe."

Mayor Pete complained, “But there are serious questions about how this decision was made and whether we are prepared for the consequences. This must not be the start of another endless war.” No, endless wars were the legacies of our last two presidents. Trump campaigned against endless wars and will keep this campaign promise as he has many others.

Crazy Bernie whined, "Trump's dangerous escalation brings us closer to another disastrous war in the Middle East that could cost countless lives and trillions more dollars.” He had no comment on how many more trillions of dollars his Medicare-for-all scheme would cost.

Marianne Williamson, who I didn’t even know is still a presidential candidate, offered, “It's about smart versus stupid use of military power.” What’s her vision of smart? Scented candles and Gregorian chants?

Tulsi Gabbard, who as a military veteran should know better, called Trump’s killing of Soleimani “an act of war”. No, the act of war was Iran killing an American and attacking a US embassy, sovereign US territory. Svengali Trump cause Gabbard to make a fool of herself.

Who knew the Democrats were so circumspect over Trump killing a terrorist, yet they all cheered when Obama did the same? Mind control.

Then Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer had a conniption over Congress not being briefed or consulted, neither the leadership nor the Gang of Eight.

Yet through mind control, Trump made Congressional leaders do an about face. Congress didn’t seem to mind Obama’s “lethal drone strikes”. This included “killing of innocents” and a US citizen. Obama ordered 563 drone strikes compared to 57 under Bush.

Democrats didn’t fuss about not being briefed before those 500 plus drone strikes, yet now they piss and moan, standing up for due process for terrorists. Magical.

Not mentioned is the “loose lips sink ships” rationale for saying nothing to Congress until after the mission. Adam Schiff would have excused himself mid-briefing to leak to CNN, who would then broadcast the plans to the world, including Iran.

Such media leaks did occur, perhaps not via Congress but instead via deep state bureaucrats who leaked to the New York Times that the evidence for an imminent attack on American interests was “razor thin.” Imagine the story line if Trump did nothing and Americans were subsequently killed.

Aside from Iran, Svengali Trump manipulated Pelosi into defending MS-13 gang members, calling them “God’s children.” Magical how Pelosi is now on record defending decapitation, dismemberment, or ripping a heart out of a victim’s body as the acts of angels.

There is much else Trump has tricked the Democrats into defending. From unaffordable schemes costing tens of trillions of dollars such as Medicare-for-all or the Green New Deal, to full term abortion, including abortion rights for men calling themselves women.

Hollywood isn’t left out of mind control either. Rose McGowan, apparently an actress, one I never heard of, tweeted an apology to the people of Iran for Trump taking out the “revered” butcher. Once again, Trump made Hollywood criticize America and take the side of terrorists.

The left’s outrage is predictable and so instructive coming into a major election. Svengali Trump is making the Democrats and media beclown themselves taking positions 180 degrees from those of four years ago when a Democrat was in the White House.

Iran and America’s left don’t know who they are dealing with. As Democrats and the media defend Iran, President Trump doubled down tweeting,

Let this serve as a WARNING that if Iran strikes any Americans, or American assets, we have targeted 52 Iranian sites (representing the 52 American hostages taken by Iran many years ago), some at a very high level & important to Iran &  the Iranian culture, and those targets, and Iran itself, WILL BE HIT VERY FAST AND VERY HARD. The USA wants no more threats!

Let’s play a game called “Mullahs in a box”. If they don’t retaliate, they lose face at home. If they do retaliate, they will be annihilated. Lose-lose. This is a game Trump likes to play with his foes, like House Democrats on impeachment.

If Democrats want to continue to defend Iran, have at it. The campaign commercials are writing themselves. Isn’t mind control grand?

Brian C Joondeph, MD, is a Denver based physician, freelance writer and occasional radio talk show host whose pieces have appeared in American Thinker, Daily Caller, and other publications. Follow him on Facebook,  LinkedIn, Twitter, and QuodVerum.