To determine whether Trump’s followers are in a personality cult, we should define the term first. Britannica offers the following:
“a deliberately created system of art, symbolism, and ritual centered on the institutionalized quasi-religious glorification of a specific individual.
Since the 20th century, “cult of personality” has been most often used to refer to charismatic leader cults, a type of personality cult which is based on a political leader and designed to enforce their power, magnify their ideology, and legitimize the rule of the government associated with them.
Due to the association of these personality cults with autocratic systems such as fascist Germany and the communist Soviet Union, they have developed a strong negative connotation.”
Yep, definitely a personality cult. The BITE Model also confirms what we all already knew and what these pictures help illustrate:
Only a raging narcissist would think these pictures are a good idea, but this is what Trump and his cult members want to see. This is what they want to believe, because they have a need to follow a strong leader. But these photos are as fake as the notion that Trump is strong or a leader.
Cults are dangerous because dogma is dangerous. Donald Trump is defying orders from the Supreme Court and has broken federal law and the Constitution several times, leading to hundreds of lawsuits against the Trump Administration, but his propaganda machine ignores and deflects.
If the AP knowingly reported lies as facts, it’s expected that a large portion of their readers would lose trust in them, because that’s exactly why they read the AP. Fox News did this and their readers continued to support them, because they aren’t interested in the truth if they don’t agree with it. When it was time for Biden to go, Democrats said so. That time will probably never happen with Trump and his cult.
Fascist leaders have relied on their personality cults to gain popularity and consolidate power before wielding both against their own nations. With Donald Trump recently not committing to upholding due process for U.S. citizens, we’re watching it unfold.
