I see many clips of people who regret voting for TACO because they have been hurt. That’s what it takes for the empathy-free to learn anything. But I am always mystified by never asking the follow up question: WHY DID YOU BELIEVE HIM? No one asks that question. To me it seems so fundamental
and basic. They all saw what happened to the economy on his watch. They all saw what he did on 1/6. WHY DID THEY BELIEVE HIM? I am not only curious about the answer, but also about why the question is never asked.
The problem is many never did see the truth. They only saw lies. I recently blocked a lifelong friend who tried to tell my Nancy Pelosi incited the Jan 6th riots. He was certain of it. He didn’t learn that on CNN
you hear this a lot - a latino from one country getting deported and saying "I thought he'd deport [people from some other latin country]" they don't like each other. They believed the deportations would be for their rivals, as long as they kissed trump's feet.
Cultural war. Mango Mussolini gave non-college educated slackjaw yokels a one-in-their lifetimes sense of momentary victory over the educated liberals who have lorded it over them for decades. They can (& have) voted against their own self interest for that momentary rush.
Our entire family are college grads. We, like every American, had the opportunity to peruse a higher education. The difference is we chose to take advantage of it. They can only blame themselves for their ignorance.
They believed him because they share the same hatred, racism, misogyny, homophobia and bigotry. They are him and he is them
Agree. Also, that he gives them cover for those bigotries.
Fox News and the like. Brainwashed
Exactly, he targeted the uninformed voter & with media’s help used fear & propaganda. Why didn’t public ed stop it? Public ed does very few & very light lessons on propaganda. Too busy teaching to tests that keeps their funding to teach critical thinking. Plus many are too lazy to think.
They have been conditioned to only absorb the propaganda they are fed
I am kind of tired of the myth of the uninformed voter. They were informed, over and over, by any and every possible avenue including mango musolini himself for months if not years on end and willfully chose ignorance
Nobody,but the curious, watches the news anymore.
I only that were true, you wouldn't be heading for a fascist dictatorship, same for the UK
generalstrikeus.com Better get involved unless you want to live under a dictatorship‼️
He lies and keeps repeating the lies
And follow up to the follow up: have you switched parties?
Most won't admit it, but the ppl I knew who voted for him, did so because they believe the "illegal immigrants are criminals" trope. They won't acknowledge what is written on the Statue of Liberty or that everyone with brown-skin (or anyone defending them) is a target.
And this goes for a small percentage of Hispanics as well. 23% of Hispanics polled think Alligator Alcatraz is a good idea. Typical "othering" attitude.
They are just fine with horrible outcomes happening to other people & ignored the facts about dictator behavior: dictators lie & don’t stop with just one group of people; they go after everyone they think is a threat to their power.
When you say "they all saw what happened, you seem to assume that Americans on the right, center and left still inhabit a shared information space, when we are almost entirely siloed in our own little corner of mediated reality. They saw a heroic president facing an evil cabal of scheming libs.
This is the correct answer. We have politicized information, news, weather, sports, religion,education, health, food, history, ad infinitum- The real question is why do we still call it the “United” States? Anyone who thinks we go through this period in our history w/o vast bloodshed is a fool.
That is the fundamental challenge facing us: somehow restoring a shared reality that we can all see and understand and then effectively respond to appropriately.
I would add that many things those of us who are not MAGA Republicans see as bugs are features. Sex assault? Fraud? Malfeasance? He's just a guy who took what was rightfully his and didn't ask. It's no accident many heroes in our culture (cf every maverick cop movie ever) center on breaking norms.
That's the other, deeper, piece of the puzzle; the phrase "the culture war" was widely known, but most of the left failed to take it seriously.
The right, meanwhile, was actually *engaged in* a war to reclaim the culture by laying out a full-blown mythology that acts as the paradigm through which all mundane facts, whether shared with us or not, are interpreted.
great point!
That deeper story is much more difficult to change.
I can't recall who said it (it was on here I think?) but liberals and anyone who isn't a supporter take Trump literally but not seriously, whereas his supporters take him seriously but not literally. I think that is salient and a good way to look at it and the question of why they follow(ed) him.
The propaganda networks like Fox News work because of the GOP psyops on the base. They have convinced the base that ideology is more important than facts. The GOP keeps the base purposefully uneducated b/c they are easier to manipulate and control. youtu.be/tmaKl0Zm2c4?...
And the GOP fear-mongering and gaslighting work on the base for a reason. www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mind...
Democrats listen to 🌮 tits and he reminds us of the guy at the end of the bar who drank far too much, is too loud & is spouting conspiracy theories to anyone who will listen to him. We back away. MAGA hear him & think he’s their daddy. They welcome him with open arms.
There are a great many who simply don’t know what’s going on. The ignorance of friends and acquaintances I’ve spoken to is astounding. Media control works, apparently. For the rest, I think it’s clear that empathy must be nurtured or it dies.
They are maliciously ignorant. And the GOP keeps the base purposefully uneducated because they are easier to manipulate and control. It's all part of the nearly half-century of GOP psyops on the base to get us exactly here.
Please don’t make assumptions about my personal conversations. I assure you that I know the difference between someone claiming all the bad things Trump does is AI and someone who legitimately didn’t know that Christian Nationalists existed.
I wasn't making assumptions about your conversations. My degrees are in psychology and this is a large part of why they are the way they are. The fear-mongering and gaslighting work on the base for a reason. www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mind...
No people group is a monolith. Only half of the “base” is likely full blown maga sycophants. The rest are just regular, misinformed people who have their head down trying to survive under decades of exploitation.
And they don't know how to inform themselves because they are purposefully uneducated.
YES!! Information suppression is REAL especially in red areas!! It’s also controlled by the collective. So, sharing real data doesn’t happen. And algorithms are awful. Especially with Russian bots that went next level. I clicked on 1 organic something or other and was FLOODED with conspiracy crap.
Bc the desire to feel superior to others is more enticing to them than voting for & getting a superior quality of life. Their identities are built in relation to those they hate. Many are lost inside w/out their hate & judgement, which is why they cling to it despite facts, history, & morality.
Yes! Not enough people get this. They vote bc he makes them feel superior and the way he makes others suffer satisfies their sadistic bullyism. They do not see any humanity in those he torments.
There are many who identified purely on racism. But I also believe the gutting of the middle class & education has caused this over successive administrations. Trump came up with a slogan they love. Take us back to the good times (just so happens that was when whites dominated everything).
There are ppl who identify on racism & admit it & there are ppl who identify with it on racism who can’t admit it or maybe even can’t see it. But to ignore racism is racist. I think it’s the result of families not being honest that they were pro-segregation during the civil rights era that…
Actually caused most of this. These pro-segregation ppl like to pretend like they respected the civil rights movement back then 🙄, they teach their kids about the golden era of that time (for whites) & not about how they went to lynchings after church. They leave that out of the dinner discussion.
That creates a fantasy their adult kids believe in today that they should try to recreate, coupled with the lack of Black American history taught in school, & the lack of penalties for racist behavior from faculty & students at school is why we are here.
It is quintessential American culture to oppose truth & accountability, & to rewrite history. It is the American way to play pretend. And every American that enables it with their silence has also brought us here.
It's the same answer, they believe him because of their psychopathology and that's not an answer the political press will accept. www.theauthoritarians.org
Because even the one asking the question doesn’t want to hear the truth bc it alines with their truth; “because he’s a white man”. White supremacy has conditioned ALL of us to always give whites the benefit of the doubt, to think there’s inherent good in them, even when the contrary is proven
Because he said what they wanted to hear. Because the alternative meant believing people they hated.
"He was already President and it was fine", is what I hear. Yeah, I know. I know. But if you don't pay attention to anything, it is possible to feel this way I guess.
They were programmed to believe him. The GOP has been running psyops on the base for nearly a half-century. The fear-mongering and gaslighting work for a reason. www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mind...
We are not the same. www.scientificamerican.com/article/cons...
They believed him because right wing media told them everything they wanted to hear. Fox News told them that brown people were to blame for their problems, that Trump is a good businessman, and that Trump is their messiah and will fix all of their problems.
"It is easier to fool someone than to get them to admit they have been fooled" -Mark Twain Some human weaknesses are timeless, and not wanting to admit you were wrong is the sin of pride, the root cause of many problems in this World.
Because they usually cover that in their teary confessions, “I didn’t think he meant me!”
I’ve asked a few - and the response I get is usually some rabbit hole conspiracy on how this is a battle of good vs evil that includes some pizza-gate conspiracy level stuff that blames everyone but him.
Feelings based evidence gathering. Many such cases
Trumplings are like parrots. They mindlessly keep repeating talking points they really don't understand nor care to even try to understand. Faith is their fortress from reality & thinking.
They believe him, because they AGREE with him. There IS no other reason.
For many, belief in TACO wasn’t about policy outcomes or historical precedent—it was about belonging, resentment, and hope, however misplaced. When someone promises to restore what you feel was stolen—status, security, cultural dominance—it can override what you see with your own eyes.
It’s not just politically inconvenient—it’s psychologically threatening. It demands that people confront their own complicity, their susceptibility to manipulation, and the emotional needs that made them vulnerable. It’s easier to say, “I was tricked” than “I ignored the truth because it felt good.”
A simply answer would be they are suckers. But certainly it’s more complex. How does anyone end up in a cult? Why do people embrace cruelty? For me it’s akin to some criminal acts. Reasonable people can never understand why. And those who commit the acts can’t explain it themselves.
I live in Houston. My neighbors vote against their best interests every single time. When asked why? These are college educated people riding high on religion and Fox news.
Hurt comes home when you hate others. It’s karma or God’s punishment. Whatever your beliefs.
There's an easy answer: because he justified their racism, homophobia and misogyny.
🎯
I think a lot of his voters did believe him and they liked his cruelty and hate. that’s even more disturbing
Yep
Because he feeds into their bigotry.
Racism, bigotry and misogyny. It was a Trump Trifecta.
I think they unconsciously realize that that person is not yet ready for that level of introspection.
Certain people believed Trump's lies b/c he "allowed" them to express HATE to minorities, women, LGBTQ, immigrants... toward anyone giving them a FALSE sense of superiority, when what those same people needed was the Democrat platform of DECENT wages, AFFORDABLE healthcare & COMFORTABLE retirement.
They twist themselves into pretzels trying to convince us that “ hes gonna make us safe” Immigrants are killing little blonde kids they’d say After telling us to “ get over” another mass shooting at the hands of a “ mental” MAGA tupe
They HAVEN'T learned! They're just whining in pain and want sympathy for the Evil THEY created. Like the KKK after the Civil War - they'll be back to cheerfully engaging in Evil against decent Americans once the pain subsides. There is only ONE solution for them.
They just believed what trump, fox NOT news and others told them without questioning. Fox fined 787 million for docmented lies. trump lies constantly.
The answer to that question is, ignorance!
Yet no matter how much they dislike their current republican, they all believe that voting for a Democrat would have been much worse. Democrats have been terrible at convincing them otherwise. And they are brainwashed by Murdoch media.
This☝️
Could be, due to the convoluted and prescribed gaslight we received when that question was first asked, we no longer care why, fearing just more of the same. We've been taught that it being "Joe Bidens' fault" is all the answer we're gonna get.
"I don't care" is always the answer.
I've been asking for years! Haven't gotten 1 answer. I can explain why I vote the way I do, & I'm in no way exceptional.
Because they wanted to.
He lied to us! Of course he lied to you he’s a convicted felon.
Bigger question: why will you vote for the next charlatan grifter that comes along with empty promises? Will you never learn?
I’m pissed that so many people are running our government that we’re neither elected by us or confirmed by congress. What the hell does Laura Loomer have those causes Trump to take her advise?!?!!
Cause she has his ear in bed and can destroy them if she is in the mood to do that.
maybe hate is their greatest motivator
Maybe ???
Yes well ignorance is right up there too
Snake Oil Salesman
Totally agree
And why did you not care that he would hurt others? Why was that not a deal-breaker?
Too many uneducated people without critical thinking skills is part of the problem.
#dumptrump was cheap entertainment. Not serious. #nopotus.
Minister denzil Carnegie shows up FIRST on your followers And on, 9 out of 10 people, that come up on my thread It looks like someone is tagging us. His site now reads as spam on bluesky
I think it came down to the fact that hate requires little effort and solving problems requires great effort. And that's America in a nutshell.
Trump spent 4 years relentlessly attacking both Biden and his own party, and enough of his attacks resonated with voters that he won them over. Dems need to be able to win a two-front COMMS war against both Republicans and their own incompetent leadership if they want to replicate his success.
I asked this weekend. The answer made me sick.
I think rather than ask why we should just laugh at them
They don’t care unless it affects them personally ! I have no sympathy for them at all !
Yes!
They have not been hurt by him.
The honest answer would have been "because we enjoy the hate."
Ignorance is bliss and it runs rampant in this country.
Fox new and other right wing media convinced people that Biden and the Democrats were ruining our country. We had the lowest employment, dropping inflation as well as programs to help all states.
I am hoping that Smartmatic voting machines lays waste to Fox News
Because they are Stupid or Evil: The stupid ones watch foxnews and can’t be bothered to think. The evil ones know it’s bad but they either want to hurt someone else or they are making money off it.
Exactly. I have a natural tenancy not to trust someone who has lied to me before. Something as simple and as obvious as Mexico will pay for the wall is all it would take for me but of course there’s a very long list
Yeah, why would you believe a guy who lies with every breath he takes? If this was their boss or coworker in a regular company, they would never put up with it.
Especially given his penchant for lying about most everything in his first term. Now it's spread to the administration and US Congress. Lying is rampant, all credibility is gone and we can't trust any news or data they release. Sure feels like the beginning of the end of democracy as we know it.
They believed him because conservatives have an enlarged/overactive right amygdala (the more primitive fear receptor) making them susceptible to conspiracies, anti-science, afraid of change, inflexible, conformist, authoritarian, favor less complexity, distinctions with out-groups, lack of empathy.
Thanks my dad is always worried that someone’s going to break into his suburban house and steal his flat screen TV and now I can ask if he thinks this because of his overactive amygdala
You’ll notice conservatives are obsessed with security (door bell cams, flood lights, cameras) cuz their brains are hardwired to be fearful of anything different/change. Their obscene cruelty stems from a lack of empathy or trust of out-groups or the “other.” Fox News caters all fear all the time.
Most voted for him because they think like him. Did they listen to his speeches? He told them what he wanted to do. He had a new health plan in two weeks. Repeal Obamacare. They didn’t listen. This is the price they pay for voting for him. Oops!
Because he hates who they hate.
Several reasons. The first is, they are in a cult. So there is no reasoning, logic or rationale when you’re trying to get an answer. The second is who they are. They want to be just like the despicable narcissist that they follow. He told them be the worst you can be, it’s OK. they love that.
The corporate media are your enemy, people stop sabotaging yourselves
Trump, "I love the uneducated" and this coming from a class 1 moron
Well, I think they listen to fox news and conservative radio so they were misinformed. I just hope they learn from their mistake.
Their mistake was thinking Fox had actual news, as opposed to just people sittting around reacting to the news.
Because they wanted to. Because their community (social circles, et al) are all a part of it and it gives them a feeling of belonging. Because they reinforce and convince each other that they're the good guys, the righteous ones, while demonizing any dissent from the narrative.
I want them to be asked if they would vote for Harris if they were given a do over and if they will vote for a Democrat next time. Regret now means nothing if they are going to hold their nose and vote for a lousy candidate again.
They might say they wouldn't vote for Trump again but you know they'll vote for the next version of him.
I just wish they were getting asked if they would vote for Trump again, if they would vote for Harris if they could do it over, if they will vote for a Democrat next time. I want more info from these folks expressing regret.
The ignorant don’t know they are ignorant. But the Republican Party knows they are easily influenced.
Oooh, ooooh, I know why!!!! Cause he is a bigot just like they are!
because believe it or not, a lot of latinos don't like black people. they're a rival minority for white attention.
Tribalism is a genetic trait of all species, and probably evolved based on survival instinct. It’s up to the bigger brains to learn to outgrow it before it destroys everyone.
Or use it in a way that lifts people up instead of driving them down. It is possible.....we can do it....and maybe that's how we'll evolve someday.
To get the libs! SMH
Prior to his 2016 victory, the man still had some integrity people felt How had this guy amused what he had without some manner of acumen No one wanted to hear that it was fake After eight years of a black man, MAGA was not ready to hear anything from a woman That, plus, he raged them up
Appeal to lowest common denominator/emotion: FEAR
Living means learning one damn lesson after another. It is why education is so necessary, because one does not have to undergo an experience personally to learn something.
Shouldn’t the first question be, are you stupid or just immoral …. Can’t get past that in my mind
More like, how could you have possibly believed him... I think there is a sizable chunk of folks who are still hanging onto him because they sent their money to him. Their Bingo $, vacation $, church $, their savings, their money for home improvements. Nobody wants to admit they were conned.
They had reason to believe him because he's doing all the things he said he would. It was all in project 25. The only people that didn't quite believe it were his opponents.
They were force fed Rush Limbaugh and Fox News since Reagan twice abolished the Fairness Doctrine and the result was oligarchs consolidated MSM and all information arrived through one silo.
They believed what the mass FOX (& the like) programming told them because it kept & keeps calling itself “America’s most trusted news” & they never cared enough to dig past that. Now that the consequences hurt, some are starting to care
I'd love to believe this, but I've not run into one person who voted for him in real life who has changed their mind. I just don't believe it. They're not going to change or get smarter, ever. If the bill just signed affects them at some point they'll find a way to blame dems.
MAGA is having a very dark night of the SOUL Many will die Teaching them NOT to take democracy for granted
Post some of those clips. I've seen three. And yes, the media failed us, is failing us, and will always fail us.
I think people are completely missing the point. How did it come to this point where people chose to believe him?
But he looks so trustworthy in his felon mugshot.
The thing you never do is procrastinate !
I don’t think they care about policy as much as they hate Dems & anti-MAGA voters. They hate that Trump proved the Dems right when he incited the insurrection. They were embarrassed by his felonies. The chance to vote for him again was about revenge & saving face - not policy. Now it’s FAFO time.
Pam. Pam. Pam. There are so many basic questions like that no one asks. It’s the sad state of our country today.
Today’s reporters are absolute trash. The way they let Trump drive the narrative daily is a disgrace. The way they refuse to ask follow up questions is infuriating. They NEVER seem prepared for his predictable lies. I don’t understand not being ready to refute the lie they know is coming.
Wow... I couldn't agree more... Not ONE of them has the guts to nail him to the wall and refuse to stop until he answers the question. Like the 24 hours end to the Ukraine war... DEMAND answers...
I grew up in the NYC area and we always saw him as the trust-fund asshole. A guy to laugh at. Honestly though, it doesn’t surprise me that so many Americans are gullible when racism is on display.
Sadly they will never admit why they believed him because then they have to admit they are stupid or they are racist. If you did t learn from the first round you are 100% one of those two things.
When I was canvassing for Kamala, a woman told me she was going to vote for tRUMP because her son was now in the military. I couldn’t help myself and said, “ But tRUMP called our soldiers suckers & losers.” Her expression displayed sadness, as she closed the door. What’s the appeal? 🤦🏻♀️🤷🏻♀️🤢🤮
Because they watch brain-washing Faux News.
should also be followed by what result did you expect, my husband works with an avid trump supporter who is horrified by the ice raids bec his sister is married into a family with immigration concerns, but he thought trump would end all crime, every crime, logic doesn’t exist in maga land
Can we get a show of hands from those that regret voting for Trump?
Why? I mean, dialogue is good but what would you want from them?
Can’t speak for anyone except a MAGA cousin who didn’t listen to Trump but the talking heads that “translated for him.” She still thinks that he was a good “political” choice. I can’t understand this.
I told you: they won’t see the damage they voted for until it’s in their own backyard.
They believe him because he tells them what they want to hear.
They believed he would do mass deportations and they're racist so it was something they could fully support. As for the Latinos For Trump...I have no idea.
Questions:Why did you vote for a rapist? Why did you vote for someone who mocked disabled people? Why do you vote for a man that lies so frequently the internet can't keep up?
There’s so MANY follow up questions that are never asked.
They still blame Clinton & Obama. When it was really Obama ridiculed trump. And we’re all paying for it🔥.
It was a roast mockery is really the point of a roast. If the roles had been reversed Obama would have laughed. Thin-skinned, orange toddler isn’t capable of handling a joke.
It’s similar to how Soft Taco Supreme is sending letters, masquerading as “trade agreements” because he’s too f***ing lazy to put in the work. For those blindly supporting him, it’s easier to believe what he says, than to put in any effort and do their own research. As a group, they’re all lazy.
They've had abusive fathers, checked-out mothers, and a local pastor threatening them with hell. Abusive men plus subservient women equals sh*t kids. Now they have their abusive Daddy in the White House. They can not envision the future and don't care what chaos will follow.
One comment that seems to surface most frequently WHEN that question is asked , is “I voted for a trump because he’s a straight shooter. He tells it like it is. He’s honest.”. So, we can deduce from this our country is overrun wit idiots who don’t pay attention to anything!
They mean “he says what I wish I could get away with saying” or “he confirms my biases”, not “the things he says are reasonable and good and he actually does them and they turn out as expected, pleasing most people”.
Trump reinforced their truths. Being honest and straightforward about his and their racism, bigotry and misogyny. He fed perfectly into their grievances and pledge vengeance against everyone they resented and feared. They connected with him on a personal level, a level of degradation and shame
You've got him pegged.🎯
It demonstrates the value of “entertainment venues” posing as fair and balanced news and bot armies flooding several social media platforms against a serious lack of critical thinking
Yes that’s my question too. They obviously can’t tell when a person is lying. But trump is so full of obvious shit.
They wanted what he said to be true, so signed up. They're only upset because it's happening to them, had it only been others they wouldn't give a damn.
I’m going through that with someone right now. While I’m like, “Welcome to the party, pal.” I’m also like, “You know what, we’re full.”
If Trump actually cares about the lives lost, ask him if he will reconsider the cuts to the weather scientists who specialize in tracking potential disasters. The answer will be a convoluted no
I have a real hard time believing that they are truly regretful. If something bad hadn’t happened to them they would otherwise be in support with his policies. MAGA people are only concerned about themselves.
A certain demographic in the United States of America have been fed poisonous hate your fellow Americans, antigovernment and anti mainstream media for decades,Rush Limbaugh, Fox News, and now News Max. Propaganda has brought down nations. It has effectively brought down the United States of America.
My favorite are the people who didn't think their loved ones would get deported, and they went to those rallies with the MASS DEPORTATION SIGNS. Were they brain-dead at the time?
Maybe the person asking questions just assumes they were stupid and doesn't want to embarrass them. I wouldn't expect any honest introspection of any MAGA other than he said 'xxx' & it sounded great. They're not going to say I love how he mocks disabled people, how he bullies ppl, etc.
These same people will vote for him again and again though. No matter how bad their lives have become
They voted for him because he promised to hurt OTHER people....
I think there's a missing component here: He blamed the brown people for THEIR problems, and then promised to hurt them. So it wasn't just hurting other people, it's hurting them with the promise of doing so will help his voters' lives.
Trump promised to hurt "those brown, black and not like them people that they also hated." Turns out Trump was out to hurt the poor working class who are and depend on the same services that they need. Racists didn't know those brown people were in the same class: middle to lower class.
That’s who works the fields but they don’t usually drive a combine
Great question.
They thought they were in the club so it wouldn't affect them. They were - Club Rube.
Bingo. Lots of that going on.
It is a Club of sorts. They have their Red Hats and get- togethers, bonding over racism, bigotry and misogyny. It's fun times in the MAGA Brotherhood.
They are monkeys in trees. Monkey see, monkey do. Never thinking of tomorrow. Not thinking of how to improve a storm once the sun starts shining again. And enjoying flinging poop.
They always think it won't happen to them.
“I only thought he would hurt other people that I consider to be less than human” - these dumb fucks, probably
Good, now a next step! Urge them back up what they are saying! Urge them to LEAVE the REPUBLICAN PARTY TODAY! Enroll as an Independent or Democrat but leave the GOP party! Next, call their politicians! Perhaps we should have list of ph numbers available. This will be one way to reverse the tide.
The DID believe him. They just didn’t think it would hurt them. As long as it was hurting people they didn’t like, they were fine with it
He's the most rational, sane President since Reagan.
You really think?? Reagan was an actor, remember. I voted for him in college but he definitely had his faults.
Folks, republican voters know Trump is lying, that he is a rapist, a thief, a con man. That is why they vote for him, "everyone does it, Trump is honest about it". Republicans have been telling Americans everyone is crooked and breaking laws since Nixon blew up his presidency.
Because they hate who he hates. And they have no empathy for others. They are greedy. Self centered.
They believed him because they wanted to
They don't know. The biggest common trait of the cult's most dedicated people is their lack of self awareness and self knowledge. To varying degrees, this lack of self understanding has defined EVERY LAST TRUMP SUPPORTER I have personally known. (Knew, I suppose.)
They don't understand themselves, so they can't see how those weaknesses are being used to manipulate them. You can't even suggest it to them without an immediate screaming emotional breakdown.
I asked a maga that question in 2017. He told me we know he lies. We don’t care as long as he stops immigration and some other things he promised.
I think the fact that they only care about themselves make them just like him. It doesn't really matter why they believed him. Well, maybe it does. They wanted the president who is more like them, lacking empathy. Well, they got it. Hurts now, huh?
The thing is- he was actually honest w them. He told them he only cared about their votes. They just wanted to bend themselves into prerzels in case he proved that losers really are being held back bc they aren’t really losers- they ARE smart enough to fix the problems they created. Losers will lose
The reasons are varied. Identification with a *strong* man. A wish to become like him. His serving up of simple solutions to complex problems. Lack of critical thinking skills. Everything a cult has to offer = belonging. Racism. Fear of losing resources to people not like them. On and on.
I have seen people say he’s honest, he only wants the best for the country…. SERIOUSLY. FFS.
Follow-up questions should be: what’s best for the country and why do you think that’s the best? How do you see that being implemented? What are the pitfalls?
Yes. Journalism is a dying art.
Lots of people have become disengaged, lazy thinkers. Many people have also been taught not to question and/or to simply believe and accept what’s been put in front them.
He simply appealed to their racism
I think we have to stop believing that they are smart enough or kind enough to change their minds. We must bully the bullies back or they will never stop! I believe we need to focus on the ones that didn't vote, 36% of registered voters.
There was plenty of proof that trump was a liar. They wanted to hurt other Americans.
They trusted a liar and felon … unfuckingbelievable!
But many of those people would vote for him again if given the opportunity 🙄🙄
I am similarly frustrated when interviewees say they voted for him because they 'liked his policies' but are never asked to explain exactly WHICH policies they liked.
I suspect most could not answer at all OR would answer with policies he does not support or is outright opposed to.
It's wild bc they believed him when he lied but dismissed him when he told the truth. Someone said Trump is like a Rorschach test for the stupid. He rambles and they project what they want to hear onto him. Sociologist of the future will have their work cut out for them.
I am an Independent who is coming from a Republican family and this is what I have learned over the years: I only vote Republican. Nothing will sway from me voting Republican. Even with the Insurrection I will still vote Republican. No woman can do the job of a man.
Women do those jobs all the time going back into history. They just didn’t get credit for it.
I know! Women have played a pivotal role in this country.
Oh I was right—two words: stupid bigots.
That is why I voted for Madame Harris
Yes you are!
There are youtube videos on why this type of stupidity happens and just how dangerous it is. It's a feature, not a bug.
I was talking to my "libertarian" brother (closet Trump fan) and I asked him if he was good with people being snatched up and sent to concentration camps. When he said he was, it broke my heart. This is a guy I thought I've known all my life, but I don't know who he is anymore. That's tragic.
They believed in him because he sells hatred. People need someone to blame for the failings in their lives, and just like hitler, trump gave them scapegoats. Fox and Sinclair then backed up everything trump told them, which let them justify their hatred.
I have not seen evidence, at least not persuasive or substantial evidence, that even those hurt by his policies so far wouldn’t vote for him/maga again if given the opportunity. So they can be upset but if it won’t change their voting behavior next time (if there is a next time) then 🤷🏻♀️
I've seen momentary regret, but the vast majority of MAGAts quickly fall back in line. Cults 101.
Yes, their locus of identity is all wrapped up in one personality.
They know because it made their racism feel ok. They will never admit that.
I think a lot of those clips, and especially the tweet memes, are faked. I’m sure they have some regret, but MAGAts would *never* admit a mistake.
They believed him because it was what they wanted to hear.
I know of at least one person, who is an immigrant themselves, say I came here the “right” way. Zero empathy after marrying an abuser to come to the US.
Exactly. The empathy thing has been the core difference between Dems and Reps for years. But believing total bullshit and complete lies is new.
Look at the clown whose WIFE has been snatched and incarcerated and may be deported, and her husband STILL supports Trump Either he got sick of her and dropped her in it (possible) OR (more likely) he is an example of a very widespread mental illness epidemic characterised by massive dissociation
Cult. That’s the only reason. Once they’ve dedicated their identity to the cult, it’s very difficult to admit they’ve made an error in judgement.
Basically as a tv star he’s good on his feet periodically! The problem is most of those times he’s telling lies! So many lies that it’s difficult to know when it’s the truth!
They "believed" him because he validated their hate and sense of grievance. What they didn't believe was that it would all blow back on them. They bought the ticket, now let them ride the ride.
They believed him because they wanted to in their hearts. They wanted someone to validate their feelings of fear, racism, hate, whatever. It’s pretty straight forward so I’m not sure why it begs the question. It’s obvious.
Yep. Same as our racists in the UK who believe the lies Farage tells them.
They have… I laugh when I hear it… He’s a good businessman He’s cares about the working class He’s a good Christian
the people no longer read. and what they hear is read by talking heads from the ministry of propaganda.
I am still waiting for Magas to explain to me ONE, just one policy that Taco made that improved their lives... They can't!
They use what about isms. To divert the conversation. I don’t let them. bs me.
It’s usually “He’s good for the economy” type magical thinking.
I've always heard that "Republicans are good for the economy" but I haven't seen any evidence of that being true since the 1950s, maybe.
Same. And I think with Trump it’s even sillier bc he doesn’t demonstrate anything like economic conservatism or some specific fiscal/monetary policy that analysts believe will be good. He’s just a former businessman as depicted on reality TV.
One told me that trump promoting anti-choice was enough of a reason. Basically, they want to save all fetuses, no matter how many people are killed and abused to do so. They believe if an intellectually disabled minor is raped and becomes pregnant, the victim should have the baby.It is God's will.
I've heard "he closed the border" and "he's deporting all the illegals." They love the anti-immigrant stance of the Republicans. They can't point to any good it will do them, but they love it.
He gave bad people the green light to hate good people. Guessing MAGAts consider that a life improvement.
Because they don't know. They are so programmed by audio and visual ques they don't know. They can't even rephrase the lines they've been given. We live in the time of actual zombies.
Exactly. I've asked several times; "What has Trump done for you MAGA?" (Crickets)
Someone a lot smarter than me pointed out that the next evil SOB who comes along, and promises to hurt everyone but them, will make them go all in again. People who voted for this are willfully ignorant and wanted "others" hurt. They thought being white would protect them. That logic tracks.
Key phrase: "they regret voting for TACO bcuz they have been hurt". If these policies didn't affect them like they do other groups, like blacks and browns, they wouldn't give a shit. They have to suffer these policies bcuz it's the only way they can return blacks to slavery and browns to Mexico
Oh….the list: Cult Brain damaged Selfish Racist Uneducated Envious of his facade Etc…etc….etc…
What's fundamental is that they knew who he was for the four horrible years he was was president during 2016-2020 and decided to go with him again! Why did they think he deserved another chance?
It’s like treating a disease without knowing what caused it
I don’t know if this will awaken anything in folks other than revenge and envy. Those that are without empathy seem to have embedded that belief so deeply in their bark that I don’t think it can be pierced. I hope I’m wrong, but I think they’ll point at a lack of empathy for them as justification.
They believed him because they never actually heard him talk. I challenged any of my Trump voting acquaintances to go to a Trump rally with me and actually listen to him speak, none took me up on it. Sooooo many Trump voters are “reluctant voters” who just believe Fox that Dems are somehow worse
For the same reason they believe in heaven: They so badly wanted to believe what he was telling them, despite a lack of evidence that it was true. And significant evidence that it was false.
Exactly. But the trump is working to kill critical thinking.
We’re not even 6 months into this abject disaster.
The problem I'm seeing is, even when they have been hurt, they remain empathy-free of others anyway.
They need to feel pain for another 18 months ...that's all they can relate to. He can't scream about eggs anymore
He promised white supremacy and since that is the majority cultural basis of America, it is very popular. The ones crying can’t say that. And the one’s asking the questions know that
We need to do a better job of educating people on history, critical thinking skills, sourcing information, and civics. They need to understand that no matter what they hear, or who they hear it from, they are responsible for their own vote. It won't solve every problem, but it will help.
They would have to be open to hearing, and they're not.
Well, some might if presented the right way, and that would be a start.
They literally tried to take all of that out of school curricula, or just defund schools to the point where kids go 4 days a week and there’s no time for any of that.
As a teacher, I'm aware. But in terms of making sure people know how to figure out what they are voting for and the potential consequences, education is what they need. Maybe not schools - maybe a different means of instruction? Answers are harder to find than identifying the problem.
They heard what they wanted to hear, that elites would suffer for disrespecting and mistreating them.
I think you answered your own question. They're devoid of empathy. They believed him because in him they saw their own reflection. Rather than voting with any consideration of others in the big picture, they voted for someone in their own identity; selfish, ignorant, intolerant and greedy.
Because the unspoken is they couldn’t vote for a black woman
Because it happened to "them" They can see anything beyond themselves.
Cult
My response would be, "So, what did you learn, Dorathy?"
The question always has the same answers: Either stupidity or evil enabled such folks to vote the way they did. Now, there will be no more voting in the USA.
Taco says he hates Dems. He has no idea about the level of hatred The Resistance has for his fat ass. No fucking idea.
Hopefully some now will ask that question. I know I will. But the trumpers I encounter lately are still living so far out in misinformed denial that they don’t link the catastrophes to tRump. They manage to use twisted logic & blame Biden or weirder yet, Obama. !?!
1) he’s charismatic 2) he stood FOR things, not merely against them (And for some people) 3) god told them to That’s really it, in a nutshell
They didn’t necessarily believe him, they were just submissive enough. Why ask questions you don’t want to hear the answers to? They simply wanted a daddy and trusted him.
Yep! Dump kept saying the hateful creepy things they believed so sure why not go along with all his hatefulness.
They haven’t learned empathy, they’re still selfish, and no one’s asking why they believed him bc we all know it’s their allegiance to white Christian nationalism.
It's really not complicated. They wanted to believe him.
But why would they not believe him. Two sets of reality out there to choose from. Two funnels.
Racism and general bigotry is why they believed him. They laid their blanket of bigotry onto Trump, and they did not believe Trump would be worse than their bigotry and therefore can't fathom it being worse. These racists are realizing, yes, there is always worse.
Because they wanted to…
One word sums it up. HATE
I don't believe anything they say. They will need to show they truly regret it with action. If they truly regretted it they would be out there protesting against trump too, but they won't, because they still enjoy his hate and racism. They would probably vote for him again if given the opportunity.
Because they were Ok with him hurting the people they don't like and never thought he would hurt his own supporters that he said he 'loved'. They didn't realise Trump only loves himself and lies as easily as he breathes. Why? Because they didn't WANT to. He was supposed to fix everything for them. 😵💫
Maybe the news media and pollsters (little better than Middle Ages crystal ball gazers) are afraid to ask that question...
Might be a form of hypnotism. Only certain people are susceptible to the suggestions of a skilled hypnotist (or a conman), others aren't.
Great question. Some gullible (crazy) people believed #Trump, like cult followers of Jim Jones. Others knew better but didn’t care (their greed and/or racism trumped all else.) At their core, Trump supporters are greedy, crazy and/or racist.
Or very naive
Narcissists tend to target naive people -- people who in their upbringing were trained to pay more attention to the proof of words than actions. These people believe what they hear rather than actions they see because they were conditioned to do so in childhood.
For more on that: www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-....
Maybe some of the naive viewpoint is affected by privilege because white people tend to think that they will be immune to the consequences of supporting authoritarianism. Just like victims of narcissists feel bad for the narcissist's enemies but don't envision themselves as an enemy until too late.
Thanks for your responses and link to the article. Your insight about victims of narcissists catching on when it’s too late is well-said.
You're welcome. Let's hope everyone's eyes open sooner rather than later.
He promised to hurt the people they also wanted to hurt. It never occurred to them that they too would be hurt. Once it impacts them, it matters. These aren't people; they're ghouls.
Because they wanted what he said to be true.
SO fundamental. He’s been found out in so many lies ALL his adult life. All. his. Life.
I truly believe it boils down mainly to one thing: racism. They see brown (“inferior”) ppl as taking over their white country. They see liberals as enabling that takeover. So anything libs hate is good. They’ll believe *anything* as long as it supports that view. Until it hurts them personally.
And maybe that’s why their answer to the question, “Why did you believe him?” always comes out as gibberish. Most of them don’t want to admit they’re racist (or they don’t even know?). I think a better question would be,”What, specifically, would make America great again?” Make them say it out loud.
It’s a Cult of personality. Jim Jones on steroids.
Excellent point!!!!🤔
Same to every word…
Were they all asleep during his first term? I really think they have no memory cells left for whatever reason. Maybe a steady diet of Fox News literally rots your brain, as I have long suspected.
I would also like every former Trump voter to ponder the question: "Now that you know the truth about Donald Trump, what are you personally going to do to right this wrong for America?"
And when this is over, after it gets much worse, I do not want to listen to them cry about what the fascists did to them. They did it to themselves by voting them in, and together with the fascists, they did it to the rest of us. Make amends and cry to a therapist, but no emotional labor from me.
They believe he's one of them. When he'd blabber on at his hate rallies he'd talk to them in language they adored. If he would go ti eat his fav food in McDonald's he'd have the place cleared out rather than dare to sit and rub elbows with the people that go there.
The growers of cherries in Washington are hugely dependant on labor from undocumented. Half their normal workforce aren't coming to work because they are afraid of getting picked up by ICE. This is trump country and the growers are blaming Democrats for "fear-mongering."
Olympic gold level mental gymnastics.
Or the other question, how would you vote next time? (Assuming there is one). Because they might be hurting, but it hasn't changed anything
Exactly
#1 idiocracy #2 racism… that about sums it up IMO!
