Why Americans like Trump
26 January 2025
Some Americans like Trump because they want to say or do the things he does:
“I know everything, even more than the experts.”
Sorry, this is not true. There is a lot you do not know. In addition, experts almost always know more about their areas of expertise than you do, even if they are occasionally wrong. It is better to admit what you don’t know and, if important, try to get this additional knowledge.
Yes, you are wrong but you don’t want to admit it. None of us gets it right all the time. That’s OK, but people with integrity admit their mistakes and try to do better the next time.
“I just know the truth and don’t have to read, study or consult with experts.”
This is nonsense, but it is part of Trump’s mental illness. He cannot distinguish his thoughts from reality and doesn’t even try. In the late 1980’s, I represented clients who thought like this, but they were typically being committed to mental hospitals.
“All my problems are someone else’s fault.”
In my experience, most problems of individuals are due to their own behavior, which they knew or should have known would cause these problems.
“I want to use my power to punish my enemies.”
“I want to hurt people who look, talk, act, think or pray differently than me.”
This, of course, is bigotry, which is part of Trump’s persona. In fact, most of us have more in common with others than we have differences. In addition, most statements by Trump about the “others” are not true.
“I want to say and do whatever I feel like without any repercussions.”
This is what disturbed children want - it fits Trump, but if you think like this, you need help.
“I want to be the center of attention, every day.”
This fits Trump, but I think we all know it is a sign of a disturbed personality. For the rest of us - do you really need this?
It’s a mystery to many of us, but as early as 2016, Trump created a large cult of followers who seem to worship him. He stated (truthfully this time), "I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldn't lose any voters, OK?"
Some Americans may want to emulate Trump - he has so many personal and business problems and yet he still yields so much power.
In my experience, Trump supporters are not admired but pitied or reviled for their lack of judgment. Most of the rest of the world is thinking about them, “What is wrong with you?”
Did I miss anything? Let me know.
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Spot on!
While I want to believe your categories as the full picture, I personally know too many supporters who don't fit any of them. Here are some others I've experienced among colleagues, neighbors and, sadly, even congregants, teachers, etc.: Lesser evil, ability to manipulate him and hold on to our power, party loyalty above all else, fear of personal professional and prestige loss and limited news access (yes, by choice, but they trust these folks and believe all the lies they keep hearing in the echo chamber.) Equally sad to me is the reality that we all tend to live in our echo chambers, silos etc. Some of what we repeat as fact turns out to also be a far stretch. Granted, it's rarely the total fabrication we hear quite regularly from Trump, but when we start talking degrees, we're on a slippery slope.
I prefer to focus on my belief that many of these folks, if there were an election "redo," would not be voting for the person they now realize they've elected. From there, I want to seek out Trumpers and LISTEN to THEIR reasoning, in hopes of targeting information and stories that speak to their wants, needs, and hopes.