Trump's Base Is a Cult: One Way We Can Tell

[@brad9189]

The most troubling thing about Trump’s appeal, to me, is that many of his supporters are drawn to him exactly BECAUSE he’s such a hateful, arrogant, egotistical, stupid, inarticulate, and wretched person. I think for them, it’s really gratifying to see someone just like themself in a position of power. He’s living the life they believe they deserve.

[@Jayluvlee87]

Perfectly said. I've been saying this (though maybe a bit harsher and not as eloquent) to his followers since he came around.

[@franciet99]

I’m glad that now I know that it’s much easier to distinguish people that have severe mental disorders. The ones that are still part of the cult, tell me that they are much worse mentally than the average person. Some mental illness is incurable such as NPD(DJT), others may take decades to unravel. But I can see a red hat and distance myself because it’s not my job to cure them.

[@Coyote001]

@@brad9189 Trickle-Down narcissism....

[@shadsie5484]

@@franciet99 Personally, I think it may be a stigma and humility issue, too. There is ENORMOUS stigma against mental illness in our culture (in world culture probably, in general). Admitting that you feel yourself slipping and need some outside help is something that people see as weak and horrible and "people like this should just kys." I have diagnosed bipolar disorder. After some awful events in my life, I sought out treatment on my own - "What is wrong with me? I know I need help, whatever it is," and that diagnosis is tricky, doctors don't always get it the first time, but... well, let's just say that medication and therapy have helped immensely. With some aspects of my life, I actively worry that I might have gone down conspiracy rabbit-holes. I like to think that I would have NEVER have supported anyone like Trump (even with the old "Christians vote Republican!" junk I got handed in my old church - I haven't gone to church in over a decade) because he is just completely vile, but who knows what I would have been caught up in. I want you to remember that there are LOADS of Democrats, Independents and Republican Never-Trumpers and other categories of generally sane people who... aren't as sane as you think... and have had to undergo a lot of work and vulnerability to get there. Please don't look at Trumpers and just dismiss them all as "mentally ill." Some actually ill people are brave enough or get help or have the right family and friends in our lives to get us help. We are the lucky ones. Hell, at this point, after some of the worst aspects of late-stage Capitalism, Trump's first term and after the Pandemic, I honestly think that everyone in America has mental health problems / we're all suffering trauma and we NEED to unpack it or cult leaders like Trump will just continue to rise. Cult leaders prey upon the vulnerable and especially upon the vulnerable who don't want to admit that they are vulnerable.

[@UTubeHandlesSuck]

@@dreamivey3405 How much does the Trump campaign pay you?

[@multinator2004]

I myself grew up in a cult called Jehovah's Witnesses. Its really fascinating to me that with that experience I basically have a 6th sense on if something is a cult because it will remind me of Jehovah's Witnesses. Its fascinating how all cults take on different forms yet EVERY SINGLE ONE has a near identical framework. Trumpism is not different.

[@f4rnsworth138]

@@multinator2004 ExJW here too! I couldn't agree more. Read Leaving The Fold by Marlene Winnel. She really lays it all out. Cults are all the same at their core

[@BrigidFitch2112]

@@f4rnsworth138 Excellent book.

[@CoffeeLuvah]

Was a kid and we went to those Huge Rallys of the jws! Just like the crap diaper don spews! The "world" out there..."they" "those people" "them" cant do this and this and this because you will be shunned or put on public reproof for being evil! Must confess evil ways in front of congregation! DIAPER DON wants to set the MILITARY on ANYONE who does not conform to HIS AGENDA! HE SAYS SO! it must be done HIS WAY! Its the same damn s**t... ITS A CULT!

[@seanhenry8243]

Also an ex-JW, and I agree - it’s like radar.

[@CornhuskerCowboy.]

Well I guess 3/4 of the American population is in a cult. # lower taxes # low gas prices # good economy

[@turner3d1]

Cult: "A group that has an unassailable devotion to a person, an object, or an ideology. The devotion is not altered by fact or evidence." Check, and check.

[@tekknow-9419]

Hence the reason religions are cults too, just cult-light since they've been around so long.

[@hmnhntr]

Wouldn't that include basically all religions?

[@skystarlit3713]

hmnhntr... now you get the picture

[@joshuablair7028]

@@hmnhntr​​⁠​⁠ I think that argument holds true for fundamentalism within religions but I think there are lots of people that believe in god that do not believe all that is written in the Bible because so much of it has been so thoroughly disproven. This indicates a willingness to alter one’s belief in the face of facts and evidence. Given that you cannot either provide compelling evidence of or against deific forces/beings, simple belief in the existence of god and an afterlife is more believing in something that has a complete lack of evidence to support it rather than any particular evidence against it. I say this as an atheist, and someone with a general distaste and distrust of organized religion.

[@HavartiCamembert]

I'd strongly disagree. There is a lot more a cult does to its members that most religions don't practice. To conflate the two trivializes the severity of cult practices.

[@agiraffe3673]

My father-in-law is a Trumper and on the surface He seems like a nice person. He’s a Christian. He goes to church every Sunday. He’s one of the guys that leads the old ladies to their seats, but I have to wonder like since we know Trump has no policies he can’t fall back on the fact that he likes Trump policies, I was a sexual assault victim advocate in the military during Trump‘s first run for president and when I heard the Hollywood tape come out I 100% thought Trump was done. The whole thing about it being locker room talk makes no sense. Who are you hanging out with in the locker room that talks about sexual assault like it’s nothing. And I just keep thinking that like that is who my father-in-law is giving his vote to. What kind of shriveled petrified shit could be in someone’s heart to let them vote for Donald Trump.

[@dashopepper]

Not trying to armchair diagnose, but there are "do-gooders" who do good because it's the right and decent thing to do, but that they'll do something good because it feeds their ego (something like "main character syndrome"). Everyone is always talking about them, "they'll give you the shirt off their back". What they all seem to have in common is that they're lousy husbands, fathers, sons, etc. They overextend themselves on the performative deed, but neglect their own families.

[@TinaSummers-k6g]

Thank you

[@DanielDennett-l9n]

Christianity has always been deeply misogynistic, just read the Bible on the role of women in the family, as chattel, as the property of men, as instructed to obey and be subservient, as the direct cause of the fall in the garden of Eden and so on. In many churches you won’t find women in charge and good luck finding a female pope or cardinal. It didn’t surprise me in the slightest when they shrugged off that tape

[@WaterKirby1994]

I disagree, it's possible to do good because you want to be good even if unknown & to tame the evil side successfully with artistic pursuits. The problem is that few people actually do that & I don't know what effect that has on a family. Then you have the man who takes pride in doing terrible things to real people Dump.

[@halfulford3081]

A true christian would never support the likes of Donald John Trump

[@Bum_Hip]

Steve, as much as we hate to admit it, the racism is a feature, not a bug. Most of his supporters probably would not admit it, but they love the bigotry. They might honestly not think they are bigots, and are just “telling it like it is,” but they are in fact bigots. Supporting hate, makes one hatful. It really is that simple.

[@turner3d1]

I used to feel sorry for the people who had become trapped in the bubble of coordinated disinformation from their political leaders, dishonest news organizations, and online communities. Thing is, watch a Trump rally and listen to the vile disgusting shit they cheer for. I know they're not all the same, but that sure killed a lot of the sympathy I used to have.

[@mnguardianfan7128]

The best quote that I've heard about MAGA and Trump is: "Trump gives them the freedom to be free from decency" - Sherrilyn Ifill It is about the bigotry, He allows them to feel comfortable with their bigotry.

[@officialtoddhoward69]

​@@dreamivey3405That's all you got? "I know you are but what I am" lmao, you got no defense because you know they're right

[@Bum_Hip]

@@dreamivey3405 It's up tp you to think that. I don't really care. Difference is, I did NOT vote for the orange guy. That makes my action speak louder than my words. How about you, did you/will you vote for Harris? Sitting out is a cop out.

[@UTubeHandlesSuck]

@@dreamivey3405 And yours as well. So what's your point?

[@michaelm2335]

My best and oldest friend, a very smart person with a technical job, voted for Trump in 2016. Ever since, he has been working backward to justify that choice, and as his Trump apologetics became more and more tortured I had no choice but to counter them, over and over again, with facts he could not actually deny. I never judged him, I never rejected him, and I never shamed him. I loved him enough to tell him he was wrong and I accepted him anyway. He cut me out of his life. No contact, even when I have reached out, even after my brother, who he was also close to, died. I can only chalk it up to cowardice at this point. He is so afraid of having his worldview challenged that he chose the myth of Trump over his friend since first grade and a family that cared for him when he went through his own hard times. I lost two brothers. Feels bad, man.

[@kellyoneilfreelance]

It's so sad when people let politics turn them on those they love. I'm sorry for your losses. I can only imagine that your friend misses you terribly, but his loyalty to Trump has clouded any rational thought. There may be a day when Trump reveals himself to the point that no one can support him. My folks are MAGA and I know their loyalty to him is solid, but hope springs eternal that they will really see him.

[@shez1270]

So sorry, but like the video says, it's a cult. Search Flying Monkeys. It refers to people influenced by a narcissist.

[@allonszenfantsjones]

I've come to think that they actually have brain damage. I mean how can you take your brain, proceed to marinate it in misinformation coming from Fox ALL DAY and have it not turn into mush. I mean technically that's what happens to piece of meat if you soak it. The question remains why would you do that to your brain in the first place? You only have one and I know there are instances of rescue from cults, which sort of would be the equivalent of reverse marination, but that's not easy. I guess the answer to my question is we are all vulnerable. Technically you could say that Rumpke was indoctrinated as a child by his father, which is a form of abuse, and that is Cult-adjacent. He is clearly damaged. Personally I don't see how you can give somebody power over you like that, and yet I endured 10 years of marriage that I shouldn't have been in, but that's the cult of marriage isn't it.🤪

[@lisbertelsen2334]

Really sad. Hope you still have a lot of good friends who are not as easy to manipulate.

[@Urza26]

I'm pretty sure it's not cowardice. It's probably just that he has made a habit of watching fox news and other such media that tells him that you're completely delusional at best and his worst enemy at worst.

[@bearislandjosh5279]

My Dad, who is now 77 years old, was a liberal all of his life, and was at PhD research chemist, working in polycarbonate research for Dow. Smartest person I've ever known. He's spent the last twenty some years, watching Fox "news" exclusively, and in that time, he's taken up Christianity, become an avowed Republican, and this past decade, a ferverent trump supporter. He excuses anything factual and negative about trump, while rejecting objective reality and ALL evidence that doesn't comport with the talking points he's been given and the lies trump and Fox feeds him. It's been incredibly distressing. He's in poor health and won't live too much longer, and at the end of his life, the trump cult has destroyed our relationship. I miss my Dad.

[@robertginsburg8113]

That's an incredibly tragic story and I'm sorry for your loss. It shows the power of propaganda and the monetary success of Fox spreading that propaganda just to make a buck. It disgusts me. Rupert Murdoch has done more to destroy democracy than any other person on the planet.

[@franciet99]

I am so sorry. I have noticed that I have done some of the similar things but for non-trump media. Turning off my tv, getting out into the world, and currently because we’re going into autumn, looking at the gifts we have changes my perspective. Good luck to you and your family. 💙

[@Coyote001]

@@bearislandjosh5279 Intelligence does not necessarily imply Wisdom; any good D&D player knows that.

[@bearislandjosh5279]

@@Coyote001 more than anything else, I think the key to the trump cult, has been the over two decades of brain washing and propaganda from Fox

[@londonoverground]

He doesn't miss you. Remember that.

[@CB-ke7eq]

Perhaps the worst feature of the MAGA cult is that it's members don't go away and live in a commune but instead insist on living beside us normies, fucking up Thanksgiving and family group texts for almost a decade now... 😖

[@theresaanderson4096]

So true and both a funny and sad statement at the same time.

[@yan-amar]

It's funny I from another country have been thinking we should maybe split the country and give half to the fascists and racist rightist neoliberals. Let them do their dreamed society and leave us in peace.

[@NicoliTucker-k7t]

California should consider seceding from the nation. That will cut off a significant amount of his money supply. I don’t know if we’ll have the courage to do it but a major amount of military is here and some of the most important ports in the US. We have agriculture Silicon Valley and a whole lot of other resources that ends up funding the red states. That’s why I’ve never really been all that interested in hearing the communist thing. California dollars keep the US afloat. Also New York they should consider it to and may be Virginia.

[@B-A-L]

One way you can tell someone is a cult leader is that no matter how bad they act or what they say their followers will stand by them blindly!

[@anitacrumbly]

Take a look at the BITE model a lot of us in the ex-evangelic, ex-mormon, ex-jahova etc. circles use it to explain why we know that these "high control religions" are cults.

[@bradwood9818]

Like MSM 🤔

[@lowiqleftist8940]

​@@bradwood9818 This whole comment section is fake and extremely hypocritical... 😂

[@Trashboat4444]

​​​@@lowiqleftist8940 Your playlists tells us everything we need to know about you, a crazy MAGA nutcase.

[@00st307-m]

@@bradwood9818MSM supports Trump and gives him so much airtime - what do you mean? Joe Rogan is basically mainstream now and he was invited to that show.

[@Mr.PeabodyTheSkeptic]

I will never trust a family member, friend, or neighbor who voted for Trump. Never. Their true colors have been laid bare.

[@seanhenry8243]

You said it! Sitting down at the table with Nazis, to have a meal together and share fellowship, makes you a nazi. Nazis get punched in the face.

[@donnaquellos4976]

I know……How can you ☹️

[@sassynana5201]

Sadly, I agree. To me, supporting Trump is a moral issue.

[@babetteshaw]

In my life, the only two trump/maga followers I know closely (childhood friends)…are “Christians.” When I point out the myriad hypocrisies, I’m met with lies/nonsense, mean rhetoric or silence. Whether family or friend, it comes down to this: I didn’t know this person could hold these cruel, divisive, selfish or idiotic thoughts. They show who they are inside. And it’s never good. Volunteer! Vote!💙💙💙🇺🇸 Stay Informed and Involved!✌️

[@minimalist279]

@@sassynana5201 a criminal issue! He is blatantly abusing his followers. he knows which of their buttons to press and he is wilfully pressing them all . I bet his team has machiavillian psychologists advising on tactics /strategy etc.

[@Savannah_Simpson]

I got super lucky. My dad voted for Trump in 2016, even owned a red hat, but by 2020 he despised him as much as anyone.

[@Phoenix-jw1mn]

Wish my dad would. 😒

[@cici35official19]

My boyfriend and I at the time supported him when we were teens, trying to be edgy and thinking we knew better. But then we grew up, we both can’t stand him.

[@shadsie5484]

I feel super lucky that my 80+ year old parents are both Dems. Dad especially hated Trump from the beginning. Then again, during their working days, they were union-people.

[@BooksForever]

Wow! That dad is a keeper! Meanwhile, my mom is a loser.

[@skippythealien9627]

@@cici35official19 that is pretty embarrassing, but kudos to you for owning up to it. having that level of self-reflection and growth is really important

[@spencerbixby7819]

Two words: Rush Limbaugh That one man has done more to poison the water than any other.

[@nmbr1son64]

Part of his judgement was losing his voice through throat cancer. He's facing the rest of his judgement now...

[@emmarae4322]

And Rupert Murdoch

[@unconditionalprong]

And Roger Ailes

[@austinpratt1923]

On the good side, Rush Limbaugh is still dead.

[@jennybean416]

Trump gives people permission to be their absolute worst selves instead of giving encouragement to better themselves.

[@TamFenters]

That's all he knows as a despicable person! No uplifting speech, just hate, rascist, lying rhetoric!

[@darrellmurray4928]

Of course he is. He's the ultimate example of the worst possible human being facing no ill consequences for any of their actions.

[@ARichardP]

Yes, and that’s what Maga-ites call “freedom” - being the biggest a-hole you want to be because that’s “being a boss”, that’s being “tough”, that’s being “a man”. All of this kind of thinking leads down to violence and to brown shirts and to Thought Police. It’s all very primitive thinking, fueled by the worst instincts in us. It is so unChristian. These people would hate Christ if they met him. They’d crucify him all over again. But they call themselves Christians.

[@latexviking8126]

I agree! They say that we shouldn't compare Trump to Hitler. But, that was also a thing that Hitler did: Hitler let his supporters be "their absolute worst selves" without interfering as long they were loyal to Hitler. A lot of mentally problematic people really enjoyed that and used that as a excuse to be totally cruel, violent and sadistic.

[@jennybean416]

@@latexviking8126 One of many comparisons that can be made between the two. The ones telling us not to talk about such comparisons are either complicit or in denial of what they are supporting.

[@Mr_DPZ]

"Unremarkable" describes Trump perfectly. I have never heard Donald Trump say anything remotely interesting or thought-provoking. I have never heard Donald Trump say anything that showed any intellectual depth or insight into important issues. He's just an annoying dud.

[@lynnlytton8244]

Without the army of stochastic terrorists and leftover middle school bullies, he’s just a fecally incontinent blowhard from New York.

[@Chimponaut]

People say Trump is charismatic, their definition of charisma must differ from mine. A guy that gives people nicknames, like an 8 year old, mocks disabled people, lies constantly, how is any of that appealing?

[@protoroc]

It's like he took a feat.called Polarizing that gives him +4 charisma bomus but only with 50% of people,, the other 50% he take a -4 penalty

[@kentesdall308]

You must remember he said he loves the uneducated, you can bet that a big share of his followers are exactly that. Very small mined people at best.

[@francodimitsy989]

Bit unfair on 8 year olds.

[@BreenBreen710]

Don't forget all the SA allegations

[@MsCartman74]

I find Trump extremely irritating. It's not just his lies and juvenile behavior. He's constantly mocking and talking down to people, even his own supporters, the sound of his voice is pure arrogance. His supporters are similar in the way they mock and talk down to people they suspect are not in their cult, I've explained countless times to MAGAheads that isn't about political viewpoints alone, I just don't like the guy. If he was a Democrat I still wouldn't like him.

[@deantodd8103]

As a Christian, I appreciate your nuanced and charitable assessment of my faith tradition. It pains me to see how so many of my fellow Christians have abandoned their lifelong values to follow after this Anti-Christ Donald Trump.

[@cyber5304]

it genuinely is wild how much of the scripture surrounding the anti-christ describes donald trump

[@nmbr1son64]

It's a revealing of who's who. Kind of separating the sheep from the goats.

[@deantodd8103]

@@cyber5304 There are three Christian KZbin channels that make the case that Trump is the biblical end-times Anti-Christ. They are Dr. Cliff Kelly, Brother James Key, and Antichrist 45.

[@nmbr1son64]

@@deantodd8103 I think of that Scripture "and for this cause, God shall send them strong delusion to believe the lie that they might all be judged..."

[@deantodd8103]

@nmbr1son64 That's the very verse of Scripture that came to me way back in 2016 when I was flabbergasted by the blindness of so many of my fellow Christians.

[@maartenvandam344]

I often read comments from people who are bewildered by Trump's supporters, which is understandable. If you look at them as just a political movement. If you see them as a cult, everything falls into place. It all makes sense then. The one thing we should never do is give a cult political power. That never ends well.

[@friendlyghost3293]

Exactly. For many of these people it is the first time they have ever felt included in something important. These are people who live in the background annoying only their family with their fatalism and lack of compassion.

[@justinfowler2857]

​@@friendlyghost3293 I think it's more about propaganda and racism that provides the majority of tRump's support.

[@susiea1419]

Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaids tale is a prophetic book. Trump is so very dangerous and stupid at the same time. Easily manipulated by big corporations like Musk!

[@Febr7]

I asked my brother about Trump saying that it was ok to take state secrets to Maralgo and my brother said "whatever?" I knew we are in deep shit!

[@Deborah-u5k]

@Febr7 I had a brief encounter with a commenter after he wrote that he was going to leave the US and move to Hawaii with his family. I informed him that Hawaii was the 50th state and has been since Aug, 1959! He responded by saying I was mixed up and must be thinking of Puerto Rico! I responded back by informing him that no, I was not confused, and indeed, I had been to Hawaii, and perhaps he should Google a map of the US. This is an adult man with a family that he must at least help to support! Never heard back. Lord help us!

[@brettany_renee_blatchley]

As a former Evangelical Christian, I think that cults fill the cultists' need for a sense of identity, belonging, and certainty. Cultists are adults that _need_ a parent figure.

[@beefandbarley]

🎯

[@AD-dg3zz]

Considering that his most fervent followers tend to be evangelical protestant Christians, their reverence of him as if he is their new messiah is weirdly fascinating. Unlike their God and Jesus, who might as well be absent fathers, Trump is tangible and actually does things that they think benefit them. He breathes new life into their stagnant, antiquated belief system and feeds into their persecution complex. They remind me a lot of female Klan gatherings, which were usually just overhyped book clubs and baking clubs. After the end of Jim Crow, when interviewed if they regretted their actions, they effectively said, "Of course I don't regret it! I got to hang out and have fun with my friends a lot." In other words, the racism and hateful rhetoric was just a pretense for them to feel like they're part of a community. They gladly threw marginalized people under the bus just to chase the high of tribalism and to feel less lonely. People really are not okay.

[@ablarousse5273]

Excellent observation.

[@pierregibson6699]

You are a scholar amongst scholars

[@SceptileDude254]

It's exactly what it is. Even for the non-religious but have a major religious upbringing, from my one experience, they just want a big Father Figure to Make All The Bad Things Go Away. ...because their own fathers and mothers have damaged and failed them in ways they won't admit they need to get therapy for. They can't let go, so they grab onto the hypothetical ideal of "The Perfect, Good Dad" where very they can make up for all the anguish and grief and rage they have felt for decades.

[@LaLaSunny-4423]

🗳️🗳️🗳️🗳️🗳️🗳️🗳️🗳️🗳️🗳️ VOTE for people who you can hold accountable, negotiate with for change, and VOTE out of office! While you can still VOTE!

[@randynovick7972]

Cults have a following because they offer acceptance and freedom from complexity. That's it. They unburden people of the task of self-knowledge.

[@valivali8104]

For some members, yes. But most common reason is that person is at more or less bad place, and cult first makes itself look like place where they can get what they want, usually community, and only start showing horrible side after member has invested too much to leave; cults have lots of common with toxic relationships 😰

[@gilberthamilton9312]

That's definitely a tendency of cults, but you should be careful not to oversimplify. Cults tend to separate their followers from broader society, tend to require some form of sacrifice or abasement, tend to have slang, tend to to have authoritarian leader figures and so on. There's probably a cool Venn diagram in this somewhere.

[@billw5189]

Yep

[@logiclight]

This happened to my formerly liberal, feminist mom. She has been cut out of our lives because I don't want her toxic conspiracy theories to confuse my children. Also, her values are hateful. She stopped being able to keep it to herself many years ago. Apparently, not having a relationship with her grandchildren is worth it to her. Pathetic.

[@abayifo]

He gives them permission to hate out loud. He is surfing on the wave of Face-eating-leopards, and the Face-eating-Leopards would NEVER eat THEIR faces! Only those *other* people's faces. tRump is offering them freedom - but they do not realize that that so called freedom is only free as long as it is what the dear leader wants. Most of those folks do not realize that a rich cult leader is not gonna want the same things as they do, they imagine Dear Leader is one of them, but it will be too late to protest once they find themselves on the menu of Hate DeJour.

[@thoracis]

Well said

[@natalieharless1715]

Bravo!

[@jessih3955]

The appeal of Trump is raw self interest. They are numerically wrong, but the vast majority will. of course, not benefit at all under Trump. They believe THEY will be better off and fuck everyone else.

[@garylefevers]

Exactly what my late spouse said. Gives people permission to be hateful bullies.

[@TinaSummers-k6g]

Exactly 💯💯💯💯💯💯

[@BonJoviBeatlesLedZep]

I'm a non-American and my mom is just the kindest person I've ever met and she's always seen the best in everyone. But she's puzzled as to why even a single person would vote for that man. I'll send her this video and I think it'll help her understand.

[@barbarasummers9938]

I’m American and just like your mom, I can’t understand it either!

[@FatFrankie42]

I'm also an American. But I've been among the lucky 20% of Americans that will ever travel outside of this country for more than a week for non-work related reasons. I was raised, due to the random chance of adoption, by incredible parents who'd both spent whatever time they could afford traveling the world starting in their early-twenties. Dad was from West Virginia, Mom was from South Africa, & they met each other at a youth hostel in London. Mom's tour bus & camping group had decided to stay there that week when planning their itinerary. My Dad was solo-backpacking through Europe during his gap-year, and happened to like the sign hanging above the front door of the hostel for some reason & that's when he decided to stay there that same week. Its been almost 57 years since they met & they've been married for 53 of them. I had the privilege & pleasure of spending at least 2 weeks & up to 6 weeks every year from before my 1st b'day until my early-20s traveling through the non-touristy parts of a foreign country or countries with my parents. There were, of course exceptions to the overall plan to avoiding going to places tourists would normally go, like Stonehenge, the Palace of Versailles Gardens, & Table-Top Mountain, for example. It was my (horrible) decision to get married thst brought an early end to traveling with my folks & if I could go back in time to re-do it knowing my choice is between either 5 awful years in a marriage that ends in divorce, or another 10-15+ years of traveling through 1 or more countries somewhere overseas together with my parents at least 2 weeks each year, I'd _absolutely_ choose traveling with my parents. All I actually set out to say was I escaped the trap of the Americans Exceptionalism propaganda thanks to my parents. I already knew it was a load of bollocks even before I actually heard the term for it used in a sentence the 1st time. So, I've never found the idea of being a non-American even the slightest bit un-appealing in & nowadays I'm finding the idea more appealing than ever before. Considering the horrors that another Trump presidency would usher in now that the functional guardrails & people in his cabinet willing to get in his way or tell him "No," that prevented Trump from doing whatever f**k he wanted during his first presidency were all eliminated, purposely broken or simply ceased to be in the last 4-5 years. Shiz got even more grim in the wake of the SCOTUS decision granting former presidents immunity from criminal prosecution for anything they do while POTUS that's considered an "official act" or a part of "carrying out the 'core duties' of their office" as POTUS. I don't want to be an American right now; the goings-on in the US are legit friggin terrifying!!! Americans fought a Revolutionary War to they wouldn't have to ever be ruled over by a king again!!! But our Supreme Court Justices just basically made the POTUS and former POTUSs into kings, to whom the rule of law does not apply, who can't be held accountable by anybody for their words or actions & have an insane amount of power to wield completely unchecked. What a fantastic idea!! 🙃 I wonder why it's never been done before?! 🤔 So yeah, umm, what happened is the wisdom of SCOTUS Justices became soooo incredibly vast & their knowledge developed such unbelievable depth & that's the reason nobody is able to understand their decisions anymore, except the SCOTUS Justices. themselves. Riiiiiiight....

[@donovanphillips419]

Nailed it. I’m a 30 year old straight white dude who grew up in a very conservative/Catholic family in suburban Ohio. I saw through Trump’s bullshit immediately 8+ years ago. What the fuck do people see in this guy? I just don’t get it.

[@beefandbarley]

They see someone doing what they themselves aspire to.

[@Blue2x2x]

Trump was able to tap in people's fears, insecurities, and anger in these people. He did it so well, that there's people who believes that Trump is a "savour of the US" himself, and anyone who questions Trump is an enemy that is "dooming everyone from being saved".

[@donovanphillips419]

@@beefandbarley Maybe so for some. At least with my family they’re 100% single issue voters: abortion. Best I can say for them is that they’ve never put a Trump sign in their yard, while they did for McCain and Romney.

[@AichiruHitoiassu]

@@donovanphillips419 some people love seeing someone do whatever he wants and getting no consequences for it. they would love to be immune. to be "superior".

[@wesleywyndam-pryce5305]

​@@donovanphillips419 they see the opportunity for fascism. "single issue voters" lol.

[@paulminshall8793]

The more someone has invested in a cult, be it money or the promise of prosperity, the more they have to lose by admitting they were wrong. The only way people can break their programming is to provide something to replace the comfort a cult brings.

[@rickl1458]

Trump also gets a lot of support from people who hate minorities & are disgusted by the marginalized. Those aren't cult followers. They just are bigots.

[@kentesdall308]

They are also looking for permission to be cruel to these groups of people they feel offensive in their mind. The extreme right gives them the feeling they have that permission.

[@wesleywyndam-pryce5305]

Donald is a cult of personality. and yeah every single one of his voters is a bigot, there are no exceptions.

[@MAAT1111]

THERE ARE DEFINTELY TRUMP CULT MEMBERS IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY & THEY HATE KAMALA BECAUSE TRUMP SAID THAT SHE ISN'T BLACK, BUT HE ISN'T EITHER.😂😂😂 SOMEBODY PLEASE MAKE IT MAKE SENSE.😅

[@MAAT1111]

The Black People that support Trump ARE DEFINITELY CULT MEMBERS❣️ TRUMP MK ULTRA'D THEM INTO THINKING THAT THEY SHOULDN'T VOTE FOR KAMALA BECAUSE SHE ISN'T 100% AFRICAN, BUT HE ISN'T EITHER & MOST OF US HAVE MIXED HERITAGE IN OUR BLOODLINES😂 SOMEBODY PLEASE MAKE IT MAKE SENSE🤯🤪

[@surewhatever8843]

I have a dear friend that went all in for donnie in 2016. He is quite successful and explained his support was tied to his own wealth and policies for his businesses. Immediately, the first round of tariffs almost bankrupted several of his companies and my friend really had to scramble to keep them afloat. A huge chunk of his labor force is immigrants that have been working towards citizenship for years and he seems to have a lot of respect for them. He is still an avid supporter. Cult.

[@mariaklahre7790]

Speaking as an atheist with a M.Div. degree, we had a definition of cult that separated it from sects/denominations/religions. It has to do with the use of violence (which can include sexual violence) to maintain the group. MAGA would definitely fit this definition.

[@rahcollier7006]

I've heard the term high control group used in place of cult for this r eason.

[@Daemonworks]

Yup, High Control Groups is the most common term that I'm aware of today. Because a lot of non-religious groups use /exactly/ the same tool sets to control folks, just differently flavoured based on that group's identity. Quite a few have been ostensibly self-help groups, mutual aid societies or the like. There's been a few that started off as perfectly innocent social clubs until somebody managed a change of leadership. Some of the pyramid schemes and whatnot also function as such. They always have some sort of "that problem you have? we're a solution!" vibe to them, because they're all looking for folks who are feeling lost, isolated, depressed and otherwise in need of support, so they can become the support and control you by threatening to remove that support the second you don't do what they want. Religions is a good fit for that, but anything you can turn into "all you have to do is trust me/us" can be turned into that. And of course, another reason why not to use 'cult' is that the word has a pre-existing meaning that kinda gets lost in the pop-culture hijacking of the term.

[@anitacrumbly]

There is also the BITE model for what determines a cult so would this then be a "high control group"?

[@--Animal--]

You can't leave a cult and we've seen how ex-republicans and ex-MAGAt's are treated by their own.

[@waverlyking6045]

A vote for Trump is not just a vote for Trump. A vote for Trump is also a vote for Kenneth Copeland, Greg Locke, Logan Paul, Dr. Phil and many others who represent the worst examples of society.

[@zacharywolter]

@@waverlyking6045 Don’t forget Andrew Tate

[@pancakes8670]

Conservatives almost always have to appeal to horrible people to gain power, because they themselves are horrible people. I genuinely want more people to point out how indicating it is that Conservative Movements are almost always backed by shitheads.

[@waverlyking6045]

@@zacharywolter Ah, yes. Mr. He-Man Woman Haters Club himself.

[@BasicallyBaconSandvichIV]

How did you not mention Elon Musk?

[@i-love-comountains3850]

​@@BasicallyBaconSandvichIV Let's be honest, he's a very forgettable person. I genuinely catch myself fairly often being somewhat surprised that Tesla and SpaceX are "his."

[@Leathurkatt]

Honestly, the first time I saw Trump on TV decades ago, I literally recoiled in absolute disgust. How anyone could follow him, let alone choose to have kids with him, is beyond comprehension...

[@Urza26]

I sometimes wonder if I'm not human since the humans around me saw Trump on the Apprentice and thought he was such an amazing person.

[@0utJ4nd3r]

A friend is voting Stein over the Gaza conflict. So I wrote an anecdote: Do you know what a protest vote sounds like? Neither do I since no one has ever heard one...

[@vegasa2067]

They talk like they are “punishing” democrats but they’re actually punishing their fellow citizens.

[@wesleywyndam-pryce5305]

I hate your friend. gonna take a small step in logic that they aren't in one of the groups who are in immediate danger from Donald being elected. standing on njave principle is a gross privilege to have.

[@0utJ4nd3r]

@wesleywyndam-pryce5305 Ironically, they are a single mom. Whyte.

[@0utJ4nd3r]

@wesleywyndam-pryce5305 We're also in IL, which is solidly Blue. Electoral votes are going to Harris no matter what. But it still feels antithetical to her proclaimed values.

[@notaspeck6104]

Yeah like I’m sorry but stein is a political opportunist, she claims to support Palestine but in the same breath praises Russia so… not a great indicator of good morals on the subject of sovereignty etc. Also I understand the concept of a protest vote, I think it has its place. But not when the stakes are this high. I support Palestine too, I don’t like that the democrats have been totally toothless. I wish they’d put netanyahu in his place. But I don’t want Palestine to get turned into a parking lot because I didn’t vote and trump got elected. It’s like choosing bleach over vinegar, why would you do that??? And while I see a lot of people personally affected by the unrest, and I understand their pain, I also see a lot of virtue signalling from the left. Yes, many democrats are awful on this issue. But voting third party doesn’t make you morally superior. What about the hundreds of thousands of people who died during Covid because trump was blatantly negligent? What about the women who have died because of his abortion bans? What about all the people suffering because of the hate he cultivates?

[@justifiedmadness31]

I parted ways with a couple of people I've known since we were kids because they not only fell into the Trump cult, but they tried so hard to make me believe he's a good person and why I should vote for him. I refused. I voted early for Kamala Harris because she is clearly the only good choice.

[@SLF-o2w]

Unfortunately those of us in California and SF Bay Area who watched her for years know her track record of opportunism.

[@bchristian85]

I grew up fundamentalist Baptist. I understand the Trump cult and what makes him appealing. That's why I'm much more terrified of Trump than the average never-Christian liberal.

[@pancakes8670]

Weird reference but your comment reminds me of Elden Ring, Shadow of the Erdtree. "Miquella the Kind... is a Monster..."

[@BasicallyBaconSandvichIV]

@pancakes8670 Only Miquellester still preaches an "age of compassion", is still called " the kind" even by Ansbach, and he's a gay twink with a great (if not incestuous) taste in men. Trump has none of even these meagre things. Miquellester is terrible to have as a leader. But damn it Trump somehow manages to be EVEN WORSE!

[@hmnhntr]

If I may ask, what is it that makes him appealing? I feel like his nature should be making Christians run for the hills

[@bchristian85]

@@hmnhntr Same-sex marriage was legalized in 2015, right at the same time he came down the golden escalator. Evangelical Christians believe that same-sex marriage is a special national sin that will cause God to wipe out any society that tolerates it. They believe America is on the hook for this since it's spread to the rest of the world from the US. They see Trump as sent by God as a weapon to set things right and save the country. They win no matter what. Either they get their theocracy, or he burns the country to the ground, fulfilling God's judgment.

[@shadsie5484]

@@hmnhntr Ex-Evangelical here, onetime reader of the Left Behind series. My church wasn't even that Fundamentalist, but I used to watch a lot of religious TV back in the day and encountered a lot of what a certain subset of American Christianity that is involved in politics has tried (and successfully) groomed people into: 1. There is this idea that God promises nations blessings and protections. There is also this idea that America is a uniquely special and blessed nation. (Some, recently, believe that it replaces Israel as the apple of God's eye / that since Jews rejected Jesus as the Messiah that God needed a new nation. Others, on the other hand, are the complete opposite of this and believe that Israel - the nation, not necessarily its people - is a vital thing to have intact for the prophesied End Times to happen - hence some of our takes on foreign policy, the "Israel can do no wrong" is a religious tenant of some of these guys). 2. A part of the above is that if a nation strays from God's Will, various disasters will befall it. Natural disasters and so forth. Christian Nationalists believe that they must make America into a Christian-nation or that the land itself will be destroyed. Along with this, they think that being too permissive and giving non-Christians (or even the not-the-right-kind-of Christians too many rights) has lead to untold perversion and sin in the land, inviting God's Wrath. (They love to ignore all of the parts of the Bible, both Old and New Testaments about welcoming the stranger into the land and doing good for the poor in favor of focusing on supposed sexual sins, though, which actually make up a very small part of the Bible, and some of the translations are disputed. Nevermind, just pointing at gay people and blaming them for hurricanes seems to suffice). 3. This subset believes that the world has to get worse before it gets better. They literally believe in the world set on fire / the coming of the Anticrhist / the rapture, etc. etc. before Christ comes bearing a sword, sets the world to Judgement and brings a Utopic Heaven to Earth. 4. They believe (strongly) in the exclusivity of this Heaven. If you believe the right things (often a little laundry-list of things) and say the right prayers, you're in. If you do not, or lose your faith, you're out and you're going to Hell to be tortured forever. Now, they are supposed to want to try to save you - to preach to you and to save your soul, but if you refuse, well, that's on you and with such a mentality, it is very, very easy to stop caring about the world and it's state. If you believe that almost no one gets to Heaven - only you and you're little band of right-believers, it becomes pretty easy to not care what happens to the rest of the world / not care what you do to it. 5. Environmental policy is the same way. "Man was given dominion over the Earth" and, of course, they ignore the many little environmental responsibility verses in the Bible, the same way as they ignore the good treatment of foreigners verses (because they are dreadfully afraid of foreigners, who don't have the right religions / specific take on their religion, you see, and therefore might corrupt their children or something). They also think that the world is going to end soon, they will just get raptured and so not to think about it, or worse yet, that thinking about the needs of the Earth is "going back to pagan Earth-based religions and worshipping Gaia" which God will definitely punish everyone for. 6. An in all, they believe that taking over the U.S.A. expelling the scary foreign influences, keeping women into some artificial "place" as breeders and helpmeets, and forcing people to, if they do not believe in their very specific version of Christianity to at least "pretend to" so that sin will decrease and God will bless us and "fake it till you make it / more people are likely to get saved this way" - well, yeah, they really do believe they can force belief of the heart and that it is their duty to - in order to keep you out of Hell (by force if necessary) or to keep you from doing the naughties that will get God pissed off at everyone. 7. Trump is a supreme sinner, but they don't care about that because he's kind of a puppet for their people. He already did the major thing that they wanted: Appoint Supreme Court justices that overturned Roe v. Wade to "save the babies" and to remind women of their place. They see him (literally, you can look up "Trump Prophets") as their "King Cyrus" a "pagan king who, while an unbeliever / sinner did things to uphold God's People." - In other words, they see him as a puppet and they like that he's a puppet. 8. A few sub-sects of this Christian Nationalism thing, in going back to the "U.S.A. is special and the New Israel" have openly decided that Trump is a "Christ" - a new Christ equal to Jesus or even a replacement for Jesus. Don't ask me why, to this Progressive Christian / former Evangelical, this is INCREDIBLY blasphemous. In other words, *nod, nod* cult leader, with the added weirdness of "he didn't even try to be a cult leader, people just elevated him and he went with it." Sorry for the length. I hope that answers some things.

[@LilLingLing6789]

I was in the trump cult until 2019.. lost everything Its because you feel so low that even someone as unimpressuve as the cult leaders feels impressive... You're trying so hard to deal with life to where life is unbearable you finally feel like someone's got your hand.. That's what it was like for me because when I was found I was broken... Lost my partner, my kids, my home everything I didn't fall for a con I knew fine well what he was llke I read his biography but why would I care about others when it was others who took everything from me? That was how I thought at the time

[@kwood1112]

Thank you for being open and honest enough to share that - it's a fascinating insight, and I and others greatly appreciate it.

[@MAAT1111]

I almost fell for the MK ULTRA too as I use to listen to a cult leader back in 2017-2020 named Taj Tarik Bey, who told us (20k listeners/week)that Trump was going to save the world.😅 I was willing to observe the situation; however, I didn't vote in 2020 because Trump kept saying dumb things that I just couldn't ignore, like "DRINK Bleach" & other stoopid remarks 😂 The Republicans also took me off the voter registration list, but I STILL HELPED TO TURN GA BLUE THAT YEAR.🎉🎉🎉

[@BritishInvasion91]

Ex Mormon here, love the shout out to Mormonism. I think often about the parallels between Mormonism's founder, Joseph Smith, and Donald Trump. It is not surprising to me in the least that so many Mormons adore him.

[@waverlyking6045]

I lost all respect for the Mormons when they chose Trump in 2016 over Evan McMullin, who actually is a Mormon.

[@BritishInvasion91]

@@waverlyking6045 they also cast out Mitt Romney after he voted to hold Trump accountable after J6. It's interesting how certain people seem more susceptible to cults than others.

[@pdxcorgidad]

​@waverlyking6045 Hell they chose his over Romney. Like...wut?

[@wesleywyndam-pryce5305]

​@@waverlyking6045 your mistake was having any respect for them to begin with.

[@waverlyking6045]

@@wesleywyndam-pryce5305 Let me put it to you like this. Respect and agreement are not the same thing. I disagree with damn near everything the Mormons are about. However, I believe in allowing even people I disagree with the opportunity to redeem themselves. Regardless of how you view Evan McMullen, he is far more principled than Trump. That was the opportunity they screwed up.

[@LovesRodents]

Trump gives people license to be their worst selves. And they love him for it.

[@cheska2024]

That insight was slow to dawn on me, but you are exactly right. It helps explain why he has so many followers. Still hard to understand.

[@lowiqleftist8940]

The hypocrisy is hilarious

[@Trashboat4444]

​@@lowiqleftist8940 What hypocrisy?

[@chrissbeausoleil2766]

The key difference between a cult and a religion is whether the community can survive a transition in leadership. Cults often collapse when then "leader" dies or abandons them. In which case the religious trappings were entirely secondary to the character of the leader, and it could just as easily been a flat earth society, or bowling club, or a D&D group that got out of hand.

[@pancakes8670]

Yeah. The terrifying thing about Cults is that they can form literally anywhere and about anything. It's like a weird bug in our wiring.

[@davidstorrs]

That's a good way to put it, and it makes clear why religions get treated differently than cults.

[@lesliewalsh1999]

Yes! Which bodes well for our nation should Harris win the upcoming election. If MAGA is truly a cult, it will disperse naturally if Trump is defeated and rendered irrelevant. A Harris/Walz landslide could ultimately free us all 💙

[@wesleywyndam-pryce5305]

in other words a religion is a cult that succeeded.

[@chrissbeausoleil2766]

@@wesleywyndam-pryce5305 Things that are bad for you succeed all the time. Junk food, cigarettes, alcohol for an example. Religion is just a cult that achieved social acceptance. Success is a bad metric, because cults die all the time: but they succeed in their purpose; which is to trick people into believing in them, and paying out. But you can walk into a catholic church and no one will bat an eye. Walk into the hall of that cult that thought there was an alien space ship in the comets tail; and people will make the disgusted face when they see you do it.

[@Redviper4092]

I 100% agree with you! Someone had invited me to a church in California, and their message was that women need to obey their husband's and if they are in an abusive marriage, women should work it out with their husband. I only went to 1 service and 1 Bible study to feel that this was a cult. I told the speaker at the Bible study that if a woman is in an abusive relationship, she should leave and find help. The speaker said that they are there to help and regardless the woman should be submissive to her husband. I told her that I don't agree, and wouldn't want to end up on dateline because of her horrible beliefs and advise. I left and never went back! The scary thing is that while driving around California, I see so many bumper stickers with that congregations name on it!

[@StarShipGray]

I’ve always been too cynical for cults. Even Scientology didn’t bother with me after taking one of their surveys.

[@everthealtruist]

Haha, yea, they never want me neither. I ask too many bad faith questions because I can't take faith as a good faith argument. "It's true because you believe it? Isn't that fucking convenient?"

[@Sundaymike1]

Yeah, I went to their bldg in Austin TX. They didn't like my responses.

[@f.demascio1857]

They hated me. My bosses paid for a weekend training for me. It had nothing to do with veterinary medicine, and everything to do with Scientology.

[@i-love-comountains3850]

​@@f.demascio1857 Holy shit I hope you anonymously reported them to the relevant state licensing boards, BBB, LinkedIn, Yelp, etc. I wouldn't want them anywhere NEAR my animals.

[@keirfarnum6811]

I did that and immediately recognized it as a sales tactic. P.S., praise Xenu. 😆

[@Alefwithhat723]

My wife and I voted today. She doesn't even care about politics, but she knows I do so she went and voted.

[@micahpendergrass7604]

The cult of DT has to go. Vote blue 💙 to save democracy!!

[@wesleywyndam-pryce5305]

democracy was lost in 2016. now we need to dismantle the system entirely.

[@sherylromine3310]

So very True. They are in a CULT! Almost a SICKNESS. It’s a Sad thing too😢 VOTE For Sanity 💙💙🌊🌊💙💙🗳️🗳️

[@silverknight1966]

Cults disallow dissent

[@BigMamaDaveX]

True! 👍

[@Lost-b1x]

Your mind will block or deflect you from criticizing or directly questioning it to hard. Replacing it with "BAD"!

[@WilliamTucker-x1q]

Cults also trash people who leave it. Dave Rubin. Jimmy dore Gabbard. Maher

[@fromulus]

I compare maga to scientology along those lines, you're not allowed to question the leader in anyway, if you do you'll begin to be ostracized. Think Leah Remini the actress. When Amber Rose spoke at the RNC she said when she's with the maga people "it's nothing but love". I'd imagine that's what most cultists feel when they're in the middle of it.

[@silverknight1966]

@fromulus I joke that Scientology was invented so Mormons would have someone to laugh at

[@lisathornhill4177]

I ask myself, WTF?, every single day. It's maddening.

[@bgw33]

Steve, I am so pleased your follower’s numbers continues to climb. I think you are doing lots of things right. Congratulations

[@aidancampbell5644]

The problem with cults is that they are really hard to dismantle without harming the victims. Not sure that will be possible with the Trump cult. Also, I really, really hope the Trump cult doesn’t metastasise into a religion.

[@ARichardP]

My concern also. That would be an extraordinarily ridiculous religion.

[@2TLJ]

I couldn’t agree more. I’m a blue dot in a very red state and I don’t understand how he is still a serious candidate. So many of his supporters overlook things that would outraged them in the past. No matter what he says or does they still kiss the ring. I don’t know what concerns me more what will happen if he wins or what will happen if he loses.

[@melodychang783]

I think the concern is higher on "if he wins" because then he has access to the authority of the State (and the nuclear codes). I'm not sure his followers are up for another J6

[@myleslong5584]

A Trump victory would be much more concerning,imo. I mean,the U.S. and our allies helped to save Europe from fascist dictatorship eighty years ago but,who’s gonna come and save us?

[@eternalskeptic]

When the person you're following can no longer do wrong in your eyes no matter what they do, you're in a cult.

[@GwydionFrost]

When the cult becomes a culture, it's a religion.

[@ucantSQ]

That's it!

[@MarquelCherry-o5q]

Cults are deceptive, controlling and manipulative, Following Jesus Christ is your choice, you can have a relationship with him because he came to die for the sins of the whole world.

[@JosetteA]

I went to high school ten miles north of Redwood Valley, California, in the late 90s. In the 1970s, Jim Jones moved his congregation from San Francisco to Redwood Valley. Many of the town's residents lost family members at Jonestown, including the twin brother of one of my favorite teachers, Mr. O'Shea. Jonestown is a majoer elephant in the room in Mendocino County. Nobody ever discusses it- ever. There are no memorials anywhere. It's like a big, shameful secret. I never would have imagined that a cult leader would serve two terms as U.S. President, at least not in my lifetime.I guess that's how cults work. They're insidious. It's such an awful shame to see what has happened to this country. How, in two decades, did we go from the Mayor Guiliani of 9/11 and Barack Obama to the modern-day disgraced Giuliani and Donald Moussalini Trump? It really does make me feel like crying sometimes. Yes, MAGA, I do feel like "crying and coping" at the prospect of another Trump administration. Everyone should balk at that notion because It is abjectly horrible.

[@RyanD8293]

Americans are incredibly reactive and very rarely proactive. Hence Iraq/Afghanistan and Trump the first time. The second time is because We are also low-information anti-intellectual optimists who think everything will work out even as We do our damnedest to make sure it doesn't 🖕🤑🖕 . . . 🔥🌎🔥

[@halleluyah757]

Escape from a cult after forty(40+) years; having lost most of my childhood and adult life to that insanity!

[@grayhatjen5924]

Congratulations! That's not small feat.

[@valivali8104]

Sorry to hear that you lost that much, but at least you have rest of your life which belongs to you 👍 You are really strong and brave for being able to get out 👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@glasgowmcglasgowfacevotegr7049]

Isn’t it just that there is a very large real section of America that want or find fascism appealing? If you are a fascist, he’s a good candidate.

[@ronjaj.addams-ramstedt1023]

This is the result of some research that The Humanist Report discussed in a video that dropped less than an hour ago. Informative, uncomfortable, and important video, worth watching.

[@GenerationX1984]

Anyone who finds fascism and authoritarianism appealing doesn't belong in the United States. Send them a passport to Russia ASAP.

[@ronjaj.addams-ramstedt1023]

​@@GenerationX1984 please watch The Humanist Report's explanation. Then come back to tell if you are still of the same opinion.

[@JasminemPolyanthum]

@@glasgowmcglasgowfacevotegr7049 the definition of fascism itself is not far off from the definition of a cult, it's just a cult deeply involved in the acquisition of sweeping political power over the "others" outside the cult.

[@brenatevi]

I was part of this cult before they worshipped Trump. It's why I understand why they picked Trump, but I'm absolutely sickened by it.

[@burtmamula8835]

Trump is a 💩🤡, not a viable choice. Keep up the good work Steve!

[@pamelarogers1141]

I voted. 💙

[@kristophermichaud4467]

That explains how quick they were to come up with the term 'Trump Derangment Syndrome'

[@thoracis]

Every time I heard it, I forget it’s a term they call other people, not what they’re called

[@lynnlytton8244]

Accusation = confession, after all.

[@cyrollan]

i think one of the differences is that if you accuse a person from being in a cult, they will deny it all day long. when you tell a person that they're in a religion, they say "yes i am". i don't think i've ever seen anyone admit to being in a cult.

[@garyjenson1326]

Cults prey on vulnerable lonely people. Concidering this saddens me that there are so many of these people in America. I guess this is the end result of individualism over community.

[@user-mg5mv2tn8q]

Community over individualism may sound good when you say it, but ultimately it's the very foundation of fascism, the notion that the individual exists to serve the state, not vice versa. Individualism comes with its flaws, yes, but I find those flaws far, far preferable to the alternative.

[@garyjenson1326]

@user-mg5mv2tn8q you're speaker in extremes. I speaking of what is, respectfully. And fascism doest care about community that's communism my friend.

[@BabsKaz]

He loves the uneducated.

[@gina6413]

I haven't heard any other KZbin commentator talk about or relate to Trump's following as a cult. Love your candidness and insights. I will subscribe and thank you!

[@Ghost_wheel]

Hell is the biggest problem I have with Judeo-Christianity. I could not bow to a god who would allow such a place to exist. Much less to send people there for eternity for “sins” committed in a finite life.

[@pancakes8670]

Hell is perhaps the biggest injustice that Judeo-Christianity would have the answer for. Lucky for them, I don't actually think it exists. Just wish they could see that too. I always saw Hell as a very emotional thing to believe in. I've had it explained to me a lot "but what happens when you see bad people getting away with their crimes? Doesn't that make you want for there to be some kind of greater justice for them?". And yeah, I understand that feeling. I feel it all the time. But like... that's part of being an adult? Is accepting that the world isn't always fair and that we have to use what's in our power to make it fair. You can't just sit around, shrug your shoulders, and say "oh well I guess God will get 'em in the afterlife."

[@johnsnodgrass6769]

The person is not sent to hell, defined as separated from God’s love, for sins per se. It is the refusal to repent that dooms the individual. God does not demand that a person “bow” as much as for the person to stop his rebellion and attempts to usurp His authority. This is why Satan is condemned for eternity.

[@franciet99]

It’s interesting to me the concept of a “hell” means we go against the big Christian concept of not judging others. However, WE are judging THEM and sending THEM to hell. Not God, we are.

[@johnsnodgrass6769]

@@franciet99 : It is true that people in their unjust and callous treatment of others can create a sort of hell on earth but the Christian concept of hell is the eternal separation from God’s love. This is not to say that God’s presence is not in hell. God fills all of space and time including hell. Hell can take many forms all to be avoided at all costs. The most frightening description of hell I have heard is a story related by the late comedian Lenny Bruce. He was put under anathesia for a surgical procedure and found himself in profound darkness, experiencing an electrical shock, and hearing a deafening humming sound. It went through his mind that what if this was eternity? How does this relate to hell? Since God is light, then God’s absence would be complete and utter darkness. The electric shock is the absence of and spiritual pleasure or peace and the loud humming is also disruptive of God’s love whose peace surpasses all understanding. This digression is to remind people not only to not be judgemental but to show justice and mercy to each other and to love God with all our heart. We are certainly not sending anyone, including ourselves, to hell by doing this.

[@UTubeHandlesSuck]

@@johnsnodgrass6769 And it all still boils down to "Do it my way or suffer," and any self-proclaimed deity who can work like that is just another dictator I reject.

[@kauleanmorningstar]

I already voted two weeks ago for Kamala

[@rosemaryhug8545]

Talk about a real demon.

[@PhilipWilson-ww2xc]

I like your definition of a cult. It works for me, too. (BTW, I'm into the Blue Oster Cult and I don't fear the reaper.)

[@beefandbarley]

🤘

[@literaterose6731]

💀🖤

[@HalfwayJac]

Nice.

[@Darksabre812]

The appeal is is something akin to a professional wrestling venue, or a festival. If you ever see those Trump rallies, the people outside they get to wear their weird out in public, without judgment from the people around them. It's a comfort thing, they get to cheer and chant together and it makes them feel better. That's the appeal. And that's why they keep going back.

[@WillStrickland]

I think the technical term is very instructive here. The technical term for what we call cults is "high-control group". They hold a high degree of control over your thoughts and actions.

[@natalieharless1715]

Well said, Steve. TY. Left the church at 17. The Immaculate Conception did it for me.

[@Jaytee.]

I think some have unwavering support for Trump because they liked The Apprentice. He's basically a celebrity off of the telly, and I wonder whether that makes them feel like they know him and can trust him.

[@TamFenters]

The whole apprentice thing was a fraud too! Trumps learned well how to impress an audience!! Too well, with nothing but lies, rascism & hate!! VOTE BLUE ALL THE WAY SAY NO TO TRUMP AND PROJECT 2025!!

[@AD-dg3zz]

In other words, they care more about their parasocial relationship than reality itself.

[@myleslong5584]

They believe that the enhanced character he portrayed on the show is real.

[@Emiliapocalypse]

And the old joking response to the question is “a cult is what big churches called little churches”

[@subtlegong2817]

The problem is I can see the appeal for Trump followers and it makes me incredibly disappointed about the country I live in

[@corvifred]

My dad grew up a hippie in Santa Maria turned to Trump in 2016 and he just seems so lost. In fact, everyone in my family besides me and my older sister are Trump supporters and it just doesn’t make sense to me.

[@grmpEqweer]

Steven Hassan is a psychologist and a cult researcher. I recommend his channel.

[@nicolasandre9886]

His BITE model is always the first thing that pops in my minds when discussing about the difference between a church and a cult.

[@renatocorvaro6924]

I don't get cults so this kind of thing is helpful for me.

[@greymage5335]

"You're the one who is close minded. You won't change your anti-Trump view and accept the truth." Actual crap I have heard.

[@katiechapman277]

Because I don't like trump doesn't make me close minded..have never liked him...long before he was in politics..a fake is all i see..he is disgusting

[@MAAT1111]

I WOULD NEVER VOTE FOR A LOW IQ MAN WHO WAS A REGULAR ON EPSTEIN ISLAND, SAYS HE'S GOOD FRIENDS WITH DIDDY, IS COOL WITH PUTIN, PARDONS ALL CRIMINAL RAPPERS, SPEWS HATE, INCITES CHAOS, PROMOTES VIOLENCE, WANTS ME TO ONLY HAVE A "BLACK" JOB, HAS ZERO RESPECT FOR WOMEN ( "I JUST GRAB 'EM BY THE P***Y") & DOESNT APOLOGIZE FOR IT. 😢 THE GOD THAT I SERVE IS THE OPPOSITE OF ALL THOSE THINGS.

[@zacharywolter]

One sign is his followers say that he doesn’t speak factually, but in metaphors and parables.

[@leliorising08]

Yet at the same time, they say they like him because he "tells it like it is" lol 🙄

[@BillCasey-r7c]

Lately, there is " the weave", ... divergences weaving together into a harmonious whole, ...later. always. Later . Be advised.

[@cyrollan]

another thing about cults, is that if you quit, the other members shun you. look at the whole "RINO" concept. look at all the families that have been torn apart because some don't also support the man.

[@JasminemPolyanthum]

I cannot recommend the content of The Knitting Cult Lady highly enough for anyone who wants to understand this better.

[@nadine4634]

Everytime i see someone with a "RED HAT" coming towards me i cross the street. Red hats have been stained.

[@annelieskarolien]

Cancel Tesla

[@jstsayn9133]

Some comic should have been doing a stand up routine over the past year: "You MIGHT be in a CULT if........"

[@lodepublishing]

I think one sign of a cult is that everyone in the cult is told that everyone outside the cult is in a cult who can't think for him- or herself. Also, listen carefully for whenever something like "listen to your inner feeling" "you 'know' this is right" "don't listen to the experts" "don't read this" is evoked. That just puts one's little mind against an entire propaganda machine.

[@oakhauser]

You get it

[@pdxcorgidad]

Or don't allow them to even use Google. They forcefully inculcate their followers from reality and shun them if they take even one step sideways.

[@FrancesElsemore]

Trump's niece Mary Trump explained his appeal to his followers very well when she said "He gives them permission to be their worst selves."

[@Melissa-yv6sk]

I don't get it ! Except that he gives them false hope and permission to be cruel .

[@april-TidBit-weems]

I'm digging your hat!! I'm a Maryland girl and as the saying goes, "Maryland girls are the best in the world" 😊

[@Audrey-ib1qz]

La Dee Dah, Steve. La Dee Dah. I love your stuff! Live long and prosper, my friend!

[@franktielemans6624]

Jim Jones was such an amateur.

[@JP-JustSayin]

Fun fact: The founder of the mormon church was actually a candidate for president ... at the time he was killed ... in a gun fight ... while in jail ... on charges connected to violating the free-press clause of the first ammendment. 🙃

[@Jayne-bk1qp]

THANK YOU! IT IS SHAMEFUL THAT HE IS ELGIBILE TO RUN FOR THE PRESIDENCY AS HE RUN FROM PRISON AS AN CONVICTED FELON! WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM? AND THE CHURCHES,? AT LEAST THE BISHOP OF PUERTO RICO HAS CONDEMNED HIS PATHOLOGICAL HATRED. ASE

[@ArealDesEffekts]

pls vote for Harris.

[@BossElefantae]

As an MD …I made sure to vote early to make sure the cult leader cannot win. As I look around in my area, i know we were not the only one. Early voting in MD started. As I went on Sunday when most would be in church, I talked to the workers who were happy to explain how busy they have been. They clapped first time voters…. They gave me a sticker for my daughter who was so nervous, she dropped it off in the drop box before I went to vote and waited outside. It amazed me as I was leaving a church group came in and were excited and joyful. Then I heard the MG speeches and wished I could help with the extra people making sure to vote early. There is no love for the cult leader where I live.

[@Lost-b1x]

Long after he is gone people will be worshipping him. We never learn..

[@LetsGoChaseThatTrain]

I'll bet that within five years (at the most), there will be actual, literal churches that worship him as their literal messiah.

[@lisashay4172]

The man is toxic and has given his followers permission to be openly hateful and prejudiced towards people that they perceive as threatening to their existence. He's NOT a Christian by any sense of the word, but his followers turn a blind eye to that.

[@vvieites001]

I don’t think it’s that deep. Trump is funny-in a low brow, 5th grade humor sort of way, but he is. They like his entertaining, bully energy. They like that he doesn’t sound like a normal politician. Many of them barely graduated high school and they don’t want to feel talked down to by an elite politician. He probably reminds them of themselves or people they grew up with (minus the billionaire part). There’s a faux relatability to him that people can connect with, for better or worse. That’s my charitable interpretation of why his cult supports him. The uncharitable version is that he says the quiet part out loud. He says what they’ve been thinking but couldn’t say out loud. He brings out the worst versions of them but they love that they can finally say the things they’ve always wanted to say. It’s that simple

[@johnsnodgrass6769]

@@vvieites001 : I agree with what you said but the real danger is that while he is entertaining and distracting with his “comedy” act, his minions and appointees are doing real damage behind the scenes.

[@Kwk16534]

Wow one of the most succinct and best analysis of trump that I have read online you should consider being an author and writing nonfiction you would do very well for yourself❤❤

[@handiable]

Thank you Steve for this content. I've always thought this. I appreciate your voice. We need it!

[@TheSuzberry]

I strive to be an ethical person.

[@mikemichael445]

We need a candidate that brings out the best in people. Trump is not that candidate

[@Coyote001]

Some people just want to follow; they either have had their ability to think for themselves beaten out of them (proverbially and/or literally) or worse, never had it in the first place. To quote Eric Hoffer on these types of authoritarian followers: "Without the ability to make something of themselves, Freedom is an irksome burden."

[@beefandbarley]

Regarding far right people, the quote at the end of your post summarizes perfectly what I’ve been thinking. They are afraid of Life and resent those who aren’t.

[@Coyote001]

@@beefandbarley Indeed, the most fanatical join not because of Freedom of Choice, but to be free FROM Choice.

[@bobshepard47]

paraphrasing a Trump supporter I heard yesterday "I was at a UFC event Trump attended. When he came into the building, the crowd went wild. The energy was incredible, they loved him. I felt like I was a part of something big." This is exactly how cults draw people in, with the promise of community and acceptance

[@f4rnsworth138]

All cults ultimately use exactly the same tactics. Once you strip away doctrine most look pretty similar. They get people through the same combination of tactics - fear, ego, and promises of a greater future. It's never about how smart or stupid or even how racist a person is. Some of the smartest, kindest, most accepting people i have ever known were in my old cult. The way a cult recruits people is by finding their emotional pressure points and pushing on them. Usually it's a combination of fear and hope, but grief and hope work well too. The cult is presented as the solution to whatever problem they think you're most concerned with. There is usually also some promise of a return to a far better glorious past, or utopia waiting just off in the not so distant future but always just out of reach unless we can do, whatever. Living in a cult is exhausting. Being part of the cult means you have been blessed with special knowledge. You are special. One of the chosen few. After awile you've been in for long enough that you can't let yourself think you've been wrong or worse, been duped. It's the Sunken Cost Fallacy. You'd be surprised some of the people i knew or knew of that were part of it. Highly educated people, celebrities, engineers, even a nuclear physicist, multiple doctors, but mostly just regular fucking people trying to make it day to day. You'd never think anything about them. Most cultists don't have any idea they're in a cult. I never did. Most cults also don't live in compounds, or wear black robes and sacrifice animals, most are made of people you know and work with. They will remain separated from society even while living and working in it. In the world but not of the World. They create their own reality for the flock. It's a huge part of the reason breaking free is so hard. Your whole world is wrapped up in the group. Rejecting the group usually comes at serious cost. In my old cult it means everyone, including family, will pretend you don't exist. Complete shunning to the point of crossing the street, averting their eyes, and pretending not to hear you if you speak to them. When the only world you've ever known is the cult, or at least haven't known anything else in a long time, and were taught to fear the outside, it makes it extremely difficult to just walk away after a certain point. I hope the voters reject the GOP fully this time. The only way they'll move away from cultist BS is if stops winning them votes. End gerrymandering and give us Ranked Choice voting. It will be a good way of breaking the backs of the party cults

[@swampsprite9]

Gosh I used to be a middle of the roader years ago and I listened to the hateful channels calling you an SJW and all that. I was so wrong; you rock. Thank you for the video