Journalist Mark Halperin appeared on Tucker Carlson's podcast, where he predicted that if Donald Trump were to become president again, the country would experience its largest-ever mental health crisis, particularly among Democrats who would be unable to process the outcome.

“I say this not flippantly. I think it will be the greatest mental health crisis in the history of the country,” Halperin said. “I think tens of millions of people will question their connection to the nation, their connection to other human beings, their vision of what their future for them and their children could be like.”

He further suggested that this crisis would lead to increased demand for mental health professionals, trauma in the workplace, rising alcoholism, and broken marriages. Carlson, appearing surprised, listened as Halperin doubled down on his prediction.

“They think he’s the worst person possible to be president,” Halperin explained. "I think it will cause the biggest mental health crisis in the history of America. And I don't think it will be kind of a passing thing that by the inauguration we’ll be fine. I think it will be sustained and unprecedented and hideous. And I don’t think the country is ready for it.”

Carlson pointed out that mental health crises often lead to violence, to which Halperin agreed, stating he believes there will be violence if Trump wins the presidency again.

"I think there'll be some violence. I think there'll be, there'll be workplace fights. There'll be fights at kid’s birthday parties,” Halperin predicted. “I think there will be protests that will turn violent.”

“It’ll be less anger and more a failure to understand how it could happen,” he continued. “Like the death of a child… or something that’s so traumatic that it is impossible for even the most mentally healthy person to truly process and incorporate into their daily life.”

Despite these dire predictions, Halperin expressed hope that he would be proven wrong.

Halperin’s comments echo the shock many left-leaning Americans felt after Trump's victory in 2016, when many believed a Trump presidency was highly unlikely, in part due to media narratives that made the outcome seem impossible. Leading up to his inauguration, protests broke out in Washington, DC, with footage showing scenes of people reacting in disbelief at the sight of Trump becoming president.