“The Republican Party Is a Cult”: Poll Has Revealed the Horrific Extent of Trump’s Indoctrination Campaign and Experts Are Concerned

Amy LewisNov 21, 2023

Minute Read

The unwavering support for Donald Trump among his followers is comparable to cult-like behavior, according to experts. Authors and political pundits have highlighted the former president’s cult leader qualities and discussed the nature of his power over followers’ identities and perceptions of reality.

Trump Exploits Vulnerability and Fear

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The reaction to Trump’s mug shot is a great example of his ability to energize his fanbase while facing felony charges most people would be condemned by all for. His behavior is akin to the way cult leaders can actually gain more power through adversity. Much like other cults, the MAGA movement exploits vulnerability and fear to create a sense of belonging and purpose for its supporters.

Republicans Think Trump Is Trustworthy

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A CBS News poll revealed the horrifying extent of Trump’s firm grip on his followers. The results indicated that a significant majority of Republicans view the former president as honest and trustworthy. Moreover, they regard him as their most reliable source of information, even above family, friends, media figures, and religious leaders.

Yearning for a Source of Trust

Psychiatrist Dr. Justin Frank, author of “Trump on the Couch,” delved into the psychological underpinnings of this loyalty. He suggested that Trump’s followers yearn for a source of confidence due to past feelings of betrayal, echoing Trump’s own sense of mistrust from childhood. The former president’s rallies foster an emotional bond by merging his perceived victimization with his followers’ experiences.

The Need to Feel Loved

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Speaking to Salon, Dr. Frank said: “Trump taps into specific needs certain people have to love and to feel loved in return. People who feel they have been lied to – whether as children or adults – yearn for a person or group to trust. While I think this type of blind loyalty to Trump is a delusion, it’s also a common human experience. In some people, it overwhelms an otherwise healthy emotional state in which most of us simultaneously understand that authority figures can be both admirable and disappointing.”

Dr. Frank Had More to Say

Dr. Frank continued: “As I wrote in ‘Trump on the Couch,’ Donald Trump himself felt lied to by his parents, which binds him and his fan base even closer. Trump provides the kind of love they crave because he instinctively meets those unconscious needs, in part because he shares them unconsciously himself.”

A “Cultified” Mindset

Jen Senko, director of “The Brainwashing of My Dad,” placed blame on the media for creating this cult-like devotion through platforms like Fox News. The perpetuation of false information, she argued, eventually leads to the creation of a “cultified” mindset among the masses.

False Information and “Right-Wing Zombies”

Speaking to Salon, Senko said: “[Fox News] became the go-to news station for bus stations, airports, restaurants, bars, doctors’ offices. When humans immerse themselves in false information that gets repeated, it stands to reason that millions of them become cultified right-wing zombies. What can be done about it? I leave it to the experts. When will America acknowledge that we are in an information war? That’s what worries me every day.”

Two Types of Trump Supporters

Former Trump supporters who have since distanced themselves from the movement, like ex-right-wing pundit Rich Logis, recognize the cult-like characteristics of MAGA. Speaking to Salon, Logis said: “There are two prevailing ties that bind the MAGA cult. The first is that Trump is an omniscient, omnipotent, martyred savior of America. Some believe him to be sent by God. The second is among those who are politically traumatized by their hyper-partisan, paralytic, paranoid worldview that Democrats, socialists, communists, and Marxists have long conspired to tyrannically infringe upon their rights and freedoms.”

The Republican Party Is a Cult

Former Republican Congressman Joe Walsh, now a vocal opponent of Trump, also gave his thoughts. Speaking to Salon, he said: “The Republican Party is a cult, an authoritarian-embracing, truth-denying cult. So what do we do about it? Well, we all come together in 2024 to defeat this anti-democracy cult. Again. That’s job No. 1. But my other job is to continue to try to rescue members of the Trump cult. That’s not a job for everyone, but as someone who helped create the cult and then escaped from the cult, it’s my job. It’s my penance.”

The Internet Responded

The results of the CBS News poll were shared across the internet and, for the most part, people were concerned but unsurprised. “Trump gives his supporters permission to be as publicly hateful and ugly as he is. That’s what they love about him,” one person said.

Some Shared Personal Stories

Some commenters shared details about their personal lives. One such individual wrote: “I have family members that tell me the reason they love Trump is because he is the only politician that tells the truth and does not lie. It’s insane how anyone can actually say that. He is such a ridiculous liar on big things and small things. It has made me lose all respect for some family members and friends, to be honest.”

Trump Is a Lowlife “God”

Others shared the moment they realized MAGA is a cult. One person wrote: “When he sat by, said idiotic things, and let thousands of people die during the beginning of the pandemic and people didn’t demand he resign, that’s how I knew it was a cult. This man likely compromised the defense of the US with his classified documents [nonsense], attempted a coup, and tried to throw out the votes of millions of people. The fact that his followers saw all this and still are down for him proves that it’s a cult, not a party and that there’s no reason with these people. They’ll have to be deprogrammed and even then, many are a lost cause. It’s just incredible that such a lowlife has become their God, but here we are.”