World Stuff [For those interested in current affairs, written from a biblical worldview.]
Why DO people support donald trump?
I really wanted to avoid opining about Donald Trump, as the airwaves are fully saturated with him. Yet a recent inquiry by one of my online friends got me thinking…
Why DO people support Donald Trump?
Whether or not the recent trial in Manhattan, in which Trump was found guilty on 34 felony counts, was “legitimate” is moot—not unimportant, just debatable. Objectively there’s some flimsy legal stuff…we’ll see how the appeals process unfolds.
What I find curious is Trump himself. Born into wealth and privilege in New York, and heavily influenced by the “positive thinking” writings of Norman Vincent Peale, Trump’s worldview was binary—there are winners and losers, nothing in-between. He viewed himself as a penultimate winner, and following in his father’s footsteps made a name for himself in New York real estate.
For many years he was also the darling of New York society, including its power base. From mayors to members of congress, from wealthy elites to presidential candidates and foreign dignitaries, people of all persuasions were either intoxicated by his charisma or beholding to his pocketbook. He even conquered television with the highly popular show, The Apprentice.
He had his share of difficulties, including few business failures in the late 90s and early 2000s, but Trump never did (and will never) admit defeat. He found a way to turn his losses into “wins”—at least in his mind.
Then, he ran for president of the United States.
Politics is a filthy game, and Trump quickly became a target of former “friends,” both politically and personally, exacerbated by his taking on Hillary Clinton. At that time she and her husband, former president Bill Clinton, were arguably one of the most powerful and dishonest political families in the country. They weren’t going to let Trump get away with anything, particularly the presidency.
Despite the Clintons, the media at large, and most of Washington D.C. set against him, a large segment of society rallied behind Trump and elected him president—this despite his unsavory character. Objectively Trump is not, nor will he ever be, a role model for marriage, personal integrity, or business ethics, which brings me to the question of why so many people support him.
I can’t speak from the perspective of a Trump supporter, but I can offer a philosophical perspective.
We exist in an increasingly tribalistic culture, and with it a certain “blindness” arises that goes something like this:
“He might be a jerk, but he’s OUR jerk!”
Historically this is true irrespective of political ideology. If the tribe’s leader forcefully stands up for the tribe’s dogma, his/her failings are overlooked. The political left did this with President Clinton and does it now with President Biden; both of whom, like Trump, have strange definitions of “truth.”
Tribalism, as old as humanity, is a powerful force, and often a subset of a culture’s zeitgeist—a mood or “vibe” that defines a society. Our current zeitgeist stems largely from two political leaders—Barack Obama and Donald Trump. Each gave permission, as it were, for deeply seeded divisions to rise. They opened the door to underlying fear, anger, and frustration. They gave approval for things once deemed offensive—the White House emblazoned with the colors of the gay pride flag, the U.S. Capital attacked by “concerned citizens.”
And each has an ego the size of Texas.
President Obama aggressively yanked our cultural wheel to the political left, giving credence to Socialist affections, devaluing traditional American values, reducing America’s influence on the global stage, and of all things increasing multi-directional racism, resulting in a very divided country.
President Trump shined a bright light not only on himself but also on those differences, enflaming divisions with rhetoric designed to expose and justify the anger of the conservative persuasion. His political nationalism, with its call for a return to “traditional” America-first values, gave a voice to millions who felt left behind during the Obama years, resulting in deeper division and chaos.
But again, each side responded, “Yeah, but he’s OUR egomaniac!”
This is why people support unsavory leaders—not because they approve of their character but because of their leader’s radical devotion to a particular ideology. Driven by a fear of losing out to the other side, in a divided culture people want street fighters, not statesmen. Collaborative is replaced with contentious, and as a result each side of the political spectrum has among its ranks some very nasty, not-the-sharpest-knife-in-the-drawer, attention-seeking folks.
And both sides fan the flames of victimhood as a motivation for revolt.
It seems the only thing that could possibly bring Americans together today is a national crisis, in which each side’s survival depended on cooperation with the other. Short of being attacked by another nation, such cooperation is unlikely, or would be short-lived. Consider how quickly we disengaged from our unity after 9/11.
In my humble opinion, the pragmatism required to support Trump or a myriad of other leaders is often nothing more than a cover for disorderly behavior—an invitation to be like the very leader they support—nasty. Our choice of candidate often depends upon, or reflects, our own character. While some pragmatists have truly altruistic motives in supporting Trump (pro-life advocates come to mind, who properly see the protection of life more important that the person advocating for such), others do it merely to act out their vilest inclinations.
So, philosophically speaking, this is why I believe people support Donald Trump.
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Email Me: richardaallenjr@pondering.blog
Pondering 