As someone who enjoys investigative documentaries about cults, I’ve come to understand some common traits that define fervent followers of a charismatic leader. Typically, the person at the helm (often a white male) is not to be questioned about his extravagant views and beliefs. If you challenge his abusive behavior, you’re branded an enemy. By the time you realize you’re entrenched in a cult-like situation, the leader’s manipulative tactics have made it nearly impossible to break free.
Over the last four years, I’ve watched Donald J. Trump, our country’s most divisive figure, hold the highest office. It’s hard not to view him as cult-like in his influence. He rallies his most devoted followers to chant his unfounded claims, donate to his cause under the illusion that their money will help combat “voter fraud,” and defend him unconditionally, regardless of his actions.
The stark similarities between a committed Trump supporter and a cult member are alarming. Psychologists have suggested that Trump embodies a form of leadership that leans into this dangerous territory. Instead of promoting unconventional religious ideologies or unique self-help philosophies, he echoes the divisive rhetoric of dictators, employing chaotic language and polarizing policies. Trump says aloud what many secretly believe, fostering an environment ripe for racism, bigotry, and xenophobia.
If you cast your vote for Donald Trump, you’ve aligned yourself with these values. This is disappointing, especially since the issues of white supremacy and patriarchy have been prevalent for generations. Trump, a reflection of these ideologies, holds up a distorted mirror for his followers to gaze into.
Your support for Trump, whether expressed quietly or loudly, is an affirmation of complacency and complicity. You, along with 72,741,954 other Americans, chose to support a narcissistic leader despite his glaring flaws. The rest of us are aware of what you stand for and what you willingly overlook. You had a chance to vote out a corrupt and abusive politician, yet you chose otherwise. This speaks volumes about your values, whether you openly display them or hide them beneath a veneer of political choice.
You may not see yourself as part of the problem, but your vote conveys a message that you are either overtly embracing hate or passively accepting it for your own benefit. Worse yet, you may have supported Trump for policies that serve only you, ignoring his long list of human rights violations.
If you’re reading this as someone who supported Trump, recognize that you may not believe you’re harming the country. You might see the bigots who support him and struggle to reconcile that with your self-image. But the difference between you, a Trump voter, and those who voted for change is stark. Many of us saw an opportunity to reject Trump’s America and took action, even knowing that it wouldn’t solve all our issues.
You might think your support is justified, but the reality is that a vote for Trump maintains the status quo of hatred and division. The FBI has identified white supremacists as a significant national threat. By supporting Trump, you’ve backed a leader whose policies have emboldened this segment of domestic terrorism.
Dr. Robert Jay Lifton, a noted psychohistorian, highlighted that while not all Trump supporters are white supremacists, many align themselves with him without question. The cult-like devotion to Trump is evident in his followers who surrender their beliefs to him.
By endorsing Trump, you’re becoming part of a disturbing cult, whether you recognize it or not. He doesn’t care about you; he cares only for his own interests. It’s time to face the reality of a Biden presidency. Stop funding a man who is using your money to settle his debts, and reconsider the information you consume, as it may not reflect the reality around you.
Now is the time to examine your biases and the impact of your choices on the marginalized communities around you. You can’t claim to love those who differ from you while opposing their rights. The truth is that human rights are not negotiable, regardless of what a leader might suggest.