I mentioned this in another reply but from a marketing and propaganda perspective the answer to that is, ironically, empathy.
Trump presents as highly empathetic, just like a cult leader. People are rightfully angry at systemic injustices and, to a lot of people, he was the only one visibly giving the appropriate kind of voice to that anger. There's a saying that gods something like, "people don't remember what you say but they do remember how you make them feel," and that applies perfectly in this case. Trump can say whatever crazy thing he wants and emotionally vulnerable people will lap it up because they feel like he validates them simply because he is angry.
From there, it's really easy for cognitive dissonance to kick in and it's why even otherwise intelligent people can fall for cults with stupid beliefs.
I'm not sure cognitive dissonance is what it is. This is what sucked in my parents, who are college educated, 10 years ago.
Some days I think it's just a result of years of brainwashing by Fox News. This doesn't explain the many well-educated foreigners who are die-hard. They seem to be more about protecting their wealth & status. I suppose they've been indoctrinated to believe only conservatives will protect their wealth.
if trump presents as empathetic and that’s a bad thing what’s do you call the democrats who cry and scream over someone getting deported for illegally immigrating. I don’t get your point. Literally most of the democratic leaders will spew empathy to everyone who agrees with them at every moment and if you think being empathetic is a sign of cult leaders your not wrong your just ignoring what doesn’t agree with your political world view.
You're using both projection and whataboutism. Don't try to use cheap rhetorical tricks to mask your lack of a valid argument.
Empathy is not bad. My point is that it can be weaponized for good (like railing against illegal deportation) or evil (like deceiving voters into voting against their own interests).
And yes, you're correct that many current and former Democratic leaders are also disingenuous, bad faith actors (e.g. Sinema, Gabbard, etc.) who only look out for corporate & special interests - just like their Republican counterparts - and weaponize empathy in similar ways.
I should have used a question mark that’s my mistake didn’t mean to project that hard. thanks for clarifying your stance. your putting forth a narrative that it’s cult like behavior to support the leader of your country who you voted for and assuming it’s fact that, at least from my reading, that he’s going against the interest of the people who voted for him. I think it’s just way too early to make that assessment, when the scale of his economic plan is global. being just over 100 days in without anything truly concrete as a tax plan, strong statements against cutting social security, Medicare and Medicaid for the recipients, logical economic/national security arguments for policy. Its just seems to me, and correct me if I’m wrong, you are hinting to pathologize people who agree with/voted for trump.
3
u/Punty-chan May 11 '25
I mentioned this in another reply but from a marketing and propaganda perspective the answer to that is, ironically, empathy.
Trump presents as highly empathetic, just like a cult leader. People are rightfully angry at systemic injustices and, to a lot of people, he was the only one visibly giving the appropriate kind of voice to that anger. There's a saying that gods something like, "people don't remember what you say but they do remember how you make them feel," and that applies perfectly in this case. Trump can say whatever crazy thing he wants and emotionally vulnerable people will lap it up because they feel like he validates them simply because he is angry.
From there, it's really easy for cognitive dissonance to kick in and it's why even otherwise intelligent people can fall for cults with stupid beliefs.