President Trump often uses the term “left-wing lunatics” to describe the behavior of radical left-wing politicians. Now, finally, an official court proceeding in the United States will decide whether radical left politics is a mental illness.
The case concerns Riddhi Patel, a 28 year old Indian-American left-wing activist who identifies as ‘non-binary’”. ‘They’ were born and raised in Bakersfield, Californiaone and worked like Economic development coordinator for the Center on Race, Poverty and the Environment (CRP)an environmental justice nonprofit focused on “supporting low-income and marginalized communities.” In her work, Patel is “highlightand intersectionality within environmental justice“And “collective liberation for oppressed communities”. Patel reportedly volunteer for Bernie Sanders’ 2020 presidential campaign also.
In April 2024, Patel appeared at a city council meeting in Bakersfield, California. She walked to the microphone and delivered an angry speech about Gaza, metal detectors, oppressors and revolution. She concluded her speech with a blunt threat to the elected officials: “We’ll see you at your house, we’ll kill you.”
The statement surprised those present. Council members stopped the meeting and had Patel arrested. Prosecutors have charged her California Penal Code § 422, which criminalises intentional threats to commit acts likely to cause death or serious bodily harm, i.e. “terrorism”. Bail was initially set at $2 million, later reduced to $500,000, and Patel was released pending further proceedings.
Over the next year and a half, the case moved through the Kern County courts with multiple delays. On November 4, 2025, Patel’s attorneys requested a delay for a mental health evaluation, arguing that she might qualify for California’s mental health diversion program. The court pronounced a judgment on December 2, 2025 second mental evaluation and scheduled a diversion hearing on the case for January 27, 2026.
Mental health distraction in California Courts is a program designed for individuals whose criminal behavior is caused by a clinical mental illness. Defendants can receive mental health treatment instead of facing traditional criminal charges. To qualify, the suspect must have been clinically diagnosed with a mental disorder. Also, a qualified mental health professional must certify that the defendant’s mental disorder, which motivated the criminal behavior, would respond to mental health treatment.
However, Patel’s rhetoric at the council meeting was not a one-off explosion. Prior to its removal, Patel’s biography on the CRP website stated that she “enjoys holding elected officials accountable.” Patel regularly attended council meetings and lived in a far-left world where almost every institution and opposing opinion is labeled fascist, oppressive or genocidal.
One of the defining characteristics of the modern left is its emotional inability to tolerate disagreement. Instead of engaging in civil debate, many leftists respond with outrage, rejection, and personal or even physical attacks when confronted with opposing political views.
Patel’s outburst reflects a broader national issue. Left-wing activists like Patel increasingly behave as if they can intimidate or openly threaten government officials and conservatives without fear of consequences, especially if they believe their views are protected by affiliation with the media and a dominant political party. There is simply no expectation of accountability.
If Riddhi Patel’s mental health assessments come back with an official finding that she suffers from mental disorders and mental illness, it will be a major milestone. And if the California court then dismisses Patel’s case, saying Patel’s threats were the product of a diagnosable mental disorder, not just political passion, the Patel case will resonate far beyond Kern County’s only courtroom.
Such a ruling would impose an uncomfortable reckoning for the left. For years, far-left rhetoric was normalized and even celebrated as “speaking truth to power.” But politics does not suspend basic norms of mental health, nor does moral certainty exempt individuals from the consequences of losing control and behaving like genocidal monsters.
A Riddhi Patel ruling on mental illness will implicitly recognize that radical left political behavior is not simply an expression of faith, but a manifestation of psychological dysfunction that impairs judgment, self-control and moral reasoning.
Passionate disagreement is the lifeblood of democracy, while intimidation and threats are its poison. If the California court concludes that Riddhi Patel’s threats stemmed from mental illness and not legitimate political views, it will provide a new national definition for the radical left. They can simply be called ‘untreated psychiatric patients’.
Joel Gilbert is a Los Angeles-based film producer and president of Highway 61 Entertainment. He is the producer of the new film Roseanne Barr is America. He is also the producer of: Dreaming of my real father, The Trayvon hoax, Trump: the art of insultand many other films about American politics and music icons. Gilbert is on Twitter: @JoelSGilbert.
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