Why They Love Donald Trump
The other day I saw some figures from a poll pitting Biden against Trump in the 2024 presidential election. It was an even race. In spite of all of the positive accomplishments of Biden during his term and all of the negatives emanating from Trump during, and especially after, his term as president, not to mention the seemingly outrageous recent rulings of his packed Supreme Court, the poll had them running even head-to-head. Now, I know that much can happen in the intervening months, but this result is quite astonishing to me.
I began to think of how so much of a supposedly democratic nation could have arrived here.
This is my conclusion.
First, I must go back to our human history of leaders developing stories (narratives) to support their leadership and convince people to believe in them and in their vision. If that narrative speaks to something within the populace and is accepted by the citizens, they take it into their hearts, and it becomes their internal story. It casts a spell. The people become mesmerized by the story and take it as their own guiding principle. They gladly give up their individuality for that leader and his/her narrative/spell.
Within our society we have refined that kind of manipulation to a fine art. We are bombarded with advertising, with propaganda, with 24/7 information about how to think and interpret the world, piped into our ears and showing up on our many screens. Donald Trump was a creation of that system, a media persona from TV and who was involved in all kinds of controversy that kept him in the news. And like those who follow soap opera or love following sensational stories like the OJ Simpson trials and Princess Di, those characters become an intimate part of their lives. There is an excitement about what will happen next that is almost addictive.
And he had a message!
This is his message.
“Watch me!!! I do not follow any of the norms, rules or even laws and I am wildly successful. Don’t listen to what they tell you about how to live your life. Stand up and be proud of what you believe in. That is what made America great, and it can again if we simply stand up. Of course, other races are a problem, other religions are a problem, other lifestyles are a problem. They are un-American and the good people know and understand that.
And if they stop us, we will rebel, violently if need be. And, if that does not work, we will stop them in other ways, we will be obstructionists to thwart their every attempt to rule.
The system of those who have been in charge of this nation, was formed under the wrong mindset and they have corrupted the nation. We are all that is holding the true America together.”
That is his story and the spell it casts, especially over those who feel dispossessed. It is like that old black magic of the song, (revised to fit the situation).
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That Old Black Magic (1942, Johnny Mercer, lyrics; Harold Arlen, music)
That old black magic has me in its spell
That old black magic that you weave so well
Those icy fingers up and down my spine
The same old witchcraft when your voice meets mine
The same old tingle that I feel inside
And then that elevator starts its slide
Down and down I go
Round and round I go
Like a leaf that's caught in the tide
I should stay away but what can I do
I hear your name, and I'm aflame
A flame with such a burning desire
That only your face can put out the fire
'cause you're the leader I have waited for
The guy that fate had me created for
And every time I hear your voice
Donald, down and down I go
Round and round I go
In that spin of love that I am in
Under that old black magic of you.
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As with all effective spells, this spell requires no deep thought, and it justifies and allows people to indulge in their personal phantasies and prejudices.
This is so far past logic and reason that it is nearly untouchable. Law and legal action will not shake it.
The question is, “How do we break that spell?”
That will require a more compelling story, a story that speaks to those who feel like they have been left out. That story must start from the premise of the importance of all citizens. It cannot start from an economic premise, or a legal premise, or even a philosophical premise, it must speak to their circumstances. It must find the real connections people have. It must give a convincing reason to work together for some commonly desirable end, a better alternative.
It cannot be about blame. It cannot be about demonizing. It must be about democracy, the kind with a small “d”, that values all citizens and gives both a voice and responsibility to each citizen to participate in the future and direction of the nation. It requires humility, and courage, and cooperation, and kindness, and sharing.