We’ve all heard it repeatedly. Trump says something completely ridiculous or even illegal and the minions within the right wing media echochamber regurgitates and defends it without thought or reason. Often they use the same language to boot. The devotion and dedication of his supporters seems irrational and absurd. That’s usually when we hear it:
MAGA is a cult.
But is it really? Is Donald Trump like Jim Jones? Marshall Applewhite? David Koresh? Would his supporters commit mass suicide if he willed it on them?
To many, the answer is an unequivicol yes. The way they defend him and his conspiracy theories and dismiss out of hand objective information contrary to his views is very much cult-like. So for them it makes it a very easy call. However, not every supporter of Trump actually IS that devoted, and many supporters are in the MAGA camp more out of hatred for Democrats than they are love of MAGA.
So let’s break it down and answer the question: Is MAGA a Cult?
We, the dedicated, hard working members at Purple America dove head first into this issue and researched thoroughly what factors define a cult. Some articles said there was seven, some five, some nine different characteristics. But when we went through and lined them all out for overlap, we found twelve distinct items that seem to determine cults. We’ll lay them all out for you and discuss how MAGA fits.
The Leader is the Ultimate Authority.
There is only leader in MAGA and it is clearly Donald J. Trump. What he says goes. Now, there are other “feeder groups” that lean into this, which includes QAnon, Right Wing Media, and oddly the entire Republican Party. But without question, whatever Trump says, the other groups either follow, support or justify, without dispute.
Cult? Uh, Yes.
The Group Suppresses Skepticism/Adverse Opinion
If you’ve ever watched The Daily Show Correspondent Jordan Klepper, he’s made a career at exposing this one.
MAGA supporters genuinely do believe what they want to about Trump and MAGA, and when confronted with any adverse information they immediately put it out of their mind or try to justify some rationalization about it. However, as to whether it “suppresses” outside information or just outright dismisses it is kind of iffy. In this case, they seem fine with letting adverse opinion be out there, and even expect it. The thing is they just outright deny it and convince themselves and others that it’s a non-factual attack on dear leader.
Cult: We’ll say 90% sure on that one.
Disassociation with Non-Believers
A key component of any cult is that it separates its believers from non-believers who can be a corrupting influence. Many a story has been written about how MAGA has ruined families and friendships, and how believers value being associated with the group more than their personal lives or well-being.
Cult: You bet.
The Group Deligitimizes Former Members
The Group Relies on Shame and Fear
Who does MAGA hate most? If you’ve looked into MAGA World with any regularity, you’d be surprised to know the targets of most of their ire, other than George Soros, Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama are NeverTrump Conservatives, “Republicans in Name Only” (RINOs) and what they refer to as “Cuckservatives.”
These two characteristics work hand in hand, as not only do they throw enough venom at former Republicans worthy of a modern day version of “1984”s “Two Minutes Hate” but they make it apparent to everyone who is in the group that to waver in any way means you may be a RINO and you don’t want any of this poison coming your way.
Cult: Oh yeah. And then some.
The Group is Paranoid About the Outside World
The other aspect of fear that MAGA relies on is somewhat Evangelical in nature'; its reliance on “End Days” narratives and how the world is coming to an end without Donald Trump in charge. It really is fascinating to watch. They blame Democrats and outsiders for everything wrong in the world EVEN IF IT STARTED UNDER TRUMP’S WATCH. If you’re a member of MAGA, you’re afraid. Of what? Everything. Anytime they toss out the word “globalists” they are fetishizing some sort of conspiracy about the world. And only Trump can save you.
QAnon was big on this, and in its own way personified a cult on its own. The only thing that kind of prevented it from such was that there was no “Leader” of that group, only that it projected its leadership onto Trump. In their view, the world was run by a group of elitist pedophiles who drink the blood of babies and that Trump working with Mueller were going to expose it in some grand event.
Black Lives Matter. Antifa. Immigrant Caravans. Hell, MAGA has people scared about their own neighbors.
Cult: Is there even such a thing as a MAGA member secure in the idea that the world is in good shape? It’s implied in the name— that’s why there’s the “Again” at the end.
The Leader is Above the Law
In September, 2016, the Access Hollywood videotape came out, exposing Trump as a philanderer and serial groper. Much of his constituency consisted of religious fundamentalists and conservatives. Everyone expected they would leave him flat out. They didn’t. In fact, they supported him MORE because he needed it at that time.
Then, while he was President, investigations into russian interference, his illegal tax habits, and a slew of other shady dealings all were put on hold or vanished based on a Justice Department opinion that you can’t indict a sitting President.
Just this week, Trump was indicted on charges stemming from a hush money payment to which he is now arguing the Statute of Limitations ran out. All of these things are contradictory to one another, and yet his supporters continue to support him and he remains “above the law.”
Cult: Until Trump pays some sort of legal conseqence, yeah, he’s above the law.
There is No Financial Transparency
Trump has used his businesses, campaigns and even the White House as moneymaking operations. The SDNY looking into his taxes came to the conclusion it was one giant shell game operation with charities, legit businesses and misstated revenues hiding where much of the money actually goes. When he ran and everyone asked to see his taxes, something that every candidate since 1972 had done, he dismissed it saying he was under audit (a lie) and that he would (and never did). Financial Transparency with Trump is functionally non-existent.
Cult: Trump trademarked “Make America Great Again” months before he announced he was running in 2016. His son in law received a $5 billion balloon payment from the Saudis after leaving office. What do you think?
The Group is Elitist
If your group is the singular solution for all the world’s problems, you’re probably in a cult. Cults see themselves as the enlightened, chosen, and elect organization tasked with radically transforming individual lives and the entire world.
That’s really MAGA’s defining purpose really. In MAGA’s hive mind, only Trump can save the world from itself.
Cult: This painting has Frederick Douglas, Harriet Tubman and Robert E. Lee in it. What do you think?
The Group Uses Brainwashing Methods
Indoctrination or “brainwashing” is the process through which a cult slowly breaks down a person’s sense of identity and ability to think rationally. Behaviors like excessive fasting, sleep deprivation, mantra repetition, prayer, hypnosis, scripture reading, chanting, meditation, or drug usage can all be used to increase a person’s vulnerability to the leader’s suggestions.
On this one, I am less certain. I don’t think MAGA itself does this other than indirectly by posting tons of videos onto YouTube and letting people go down the rabbit holes. In that sense, they’re not doing the brainwashing, its more passive on MAGAs part and an affirmative action on the user’s part.
I think the people who are in MAGA are just more susceptible to it as they are many of the religious, politically devoted, unquestioning followers of different groups to begin with. Before joining MAGA they already were religious. They already were watching FOX news. They already were hardcore Republicans. I think MAGA just took their already emptied predispositions and exploited it.
Cult: Well, they’re cultlike devotion was already there; MAGA just pointed it towards them.
Direction to Conduct an Immoral Act and Commission of It
We all have a sense of morality. Lines we typically won’t cross, for the sake of ourselves or our families or our friends. Probably the most cult-like thing that can occur is when the leader directs the followers to commit an act against their better judgment or morality. In the case of Jonestown and Heaven’s Gate it was mass suicide. In the case of the Branch Davidians and Waco it was David Koresh’s sexual predilictions with the women of the group, including minors (and also mass suicide). In many cases its crime—either stealing or prostitution.
In MAGA’s case, it was the January 6th Insurrection. Many MAGA members see themselves as patriots and if you had asked them ten years ago would they riot and ravage the Capitol they would say no. But Trump put out the call, their belief was strong, and they followed him and did it.
Cult: MAGA drank the Kool Aid and then some.
The Unifying Cause is Ultimately an Empty Promise
Most cults are moneymaking scams in some form or another. They prey on the belief of the devotees in the hope of taking their money. That isn’t always the case. Sometimes there is a genuine faith there that the leaders have that just has nothing supporting it.
What distinguishes a cult from a religion or a political campaign is that a cult’s belief system is ultimately hollow; there is nothing there supporting it. A religion or a political group has a belief and consistent with that belief they go about working to put it into practice. A cult’s belief system is often hypocritical, shallow or even non-existent, full of promises, talk of the future or circular logic, but with nothing of substance showing a plan to implement it.
Cult: MAGA’s promises are outlandish, hollow B.S.. When Trump was in office, he didn’t try to accomplish any of it. He flat out contradicted much of what he said he would do.
VERDICT: Of the twelve characteristics of a cult, MAGA clearly contains 10 of them. Of the other two, one is pretty darn close and the other fails only because the members had a cultlike devotion before joining MAGA and were already predisposed to it. In that sense, yeah, for all practical purposes, it’s a cult.
PurpleAmerica’s Recommended Stories
I am currently reading Jeff Guinn’s book on the 1993 Branch Davidian raid in Waco, “Waco: David Koresh, the Branch Davidians and a Legacy of Rage.” Its a fascinating book and I strongly encourage reading it. He also has a book about Jonestown which I may have to read as well.
PurpleAmerica’s Obscure Fact of the Day
Cults are very much in the news lately, with the NXIVM and other cults getting attention. They’re fascinating because from the outside looking in we wonder how people can be so taken in by such charlatans. The fact is that if you have an ABOVE average IQ, you are statistically more likely to get sucked into a cult.
Did you know that:
Among those that perished in Waco, one of the Branch Davidians was a lawyer and another was a Doctor? Several were wealthy prior to devoting their entire bank accounts to the cause.
The person who largely funded the NXIVM cult was an heiress to the Seagrams Distillery fortune? Another major supporter was an Oscar nominee for Best Documentary Feature. In fact, the whole operation was geared toward Corporate and Executive Success Programs, people wanting to get ahead.
All of the members of the Sarah Lawrence College Cult were students at the school and had excellent grades in high school.
Wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas was a member of and eventually testified before Congress regarding the 80s cult “the Way.”
The volume of famous actors and actresses associated with cults is very high; Scientology, a group many consider a cult, is associated with many famous people in Hollywood. Glenn Close, Patricia Arquette and Joaquin Phoenix all were members of cults through their parents when they were young.
PurpleAmerica Cultural Criticism Corner
Its an all cult culture corner.
First, I’m currently completely sucked into Yellowjackets right now and got my wife addicted.
Second, always loved this song from the band “The Cult.”
Lastly, back in 2011 there was an interesting movie titled “Mary Marlene Marcy May” about a girl (played by Scarlet Witch Elizabeth Olsen) who became part of a cult and her trying to adapt to escaping it.
Outstanding Tweet
Footnotes and Parting Thoughts
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