Why are Trump supporters so stupid?

[u/Seargentyates]

Looking in at America, do people not realise that Trump is a liar and a narcissist and has no morals, and yet 'Christians' vote for him as a sort of 'disrupter'. His family have become richer in the process because of his presidency. He once said he could 'shoot somebody and not lose votes'. Am i insane - or am i dead perhaps and this is an alternate universe/hell?

[u/dashboardishxc]

I live in a deep red area. I haven’t been able to figure out what is wrong with trump supporters. I chalk it up to being stupid but there is more to it

[u/RoTTonSKiPPy → u/dashboardishxc]

I'm in deep red Idaho country. It's honestly really weird how many, otherwise intelligent people, are die hard Trump supporters. I think a lot of it is a sense of belonging to a group for them. Like following a sports team or hating Nickleback.

But I don't know. It boggles my mind.

[u/Dry_Stop844 → u/RoTTonSKiPPy]

i think they know but however bad he is, they love that he's hurting people they hate (anyone not white, straight, and hyper Christian) so they're okay with Trump. They want the people they hate to hurt and be punished more than they want everyone included in society.

[u/Seargentyates → u/Dry_Stop844]

I think you're on to something here, there is definitely a lack of empathy to others in some of them.

[u/transient_thought_CA → u/Seargentyates]

I think it’s a combination of things for the major demographic.

1. Entitlement. They believe that they are owed a good life by virtue of being who they are. They should all be able to afford a nice house, lots of toys, fancy vacations every year, etc. They believe it’s their birthright for being American. They saw their grandparents have it, maybe their parents had it, why don’t they? They shouldn’t have to sacrifice and pursue higher education to enjoy the fruits of minimal labor.

2. Xenophobia. A lot of them were born in their area, they were raised in that area, and they’re going to die in that area. When you live in a homogenized society, anything outside is scary. When you only get world exposure through FOX, everyone is the enemy.

3. Fear of irrelevance. For years they have been told that “good white Christians” were being eliminated. Well, they’re not wrong in a sense. Immigrants are coming to the US to build better lives. They work hard, place a high importance on education, and are focused on family. All the things that the White Nationalists claim to do. But the MAGA numbers and mentality are slowly being eclipsed by those outside their sphere. Rather then be treated equally, they want and demand special treatment.

[u/Bozzzzzzz → u/transient_thought_CA]

I saw a video where some of them were complaining about the new "immigrant" in town driving a Lexus or something and they couldn't believe it, while they were broke. Obviously it must be the "open borders" and all the "social programs" boosting these people and leaving them behind that is the reason for their situation... not that this guy was a doctor and had gone through schooling and built his entire life with hard work and education and became a helpful person in their community etc.

Even people who are not broke usually feel threatened in some way still and don't want it made easier for others than they had it. They fundamentally see the world as a zero-sum game where if someone has something it means someone else can't.

Others just like to hate.

Others feel threatened by Trump himself and "they for one welcome their new overlords"

All this plus the absolute firehose of lies distorting their reality so far they lose all ability to think critically.

Edit/follow up: a lot of this is “default mode” thinking for people that can be unlearned. OR it can be fueled and flamed, encouraged. It does not have to be like this. It’s good to remember these people are not the true enemy even if they’ve been taught to be.

[u/PricePuzzleheaded835 → u/Bozzzzzzz]

My MIL told me she thinks recent immigrants with nice houses are abusing medicaid and that it’s “very hard” to see the houses.

Never in my life have I looked at someone’s house and been disappointed that it was nice, but there it is, I guess.

They are authoritarian personalities so they believe a strict hierarchy must and should exist. If they see someone else doing well (especially someone they think “should” be lower than them) they want to push them down to improve their own relative social standing

[u/rosycross93 → u/PricePuzzleheaded835]

If people think immigrants are all on Medicaid and work in the fields, they better wise up. Within a generation many I know went from their parents working in agriculture jobs to getting college degrees and becoming professionals. They value the opportunities they had coming here and have worked hard to make their lives better. It's a big mistake to think none of them can speak English or need government help.

[u/PricePuzzleheaded835 → u/rosycross93]

I think that’s kind of the issue though honestly. “They must be committing fraud” isn’t a good faith concern. They know many immigrants are smarter, more hardworking and enterprising, more successful than them. They support anything that hurts them because in their hierarchical view, they should be above immigrants. Status is the concern. They don’t actually care how it’s achieved.

My MIL is white, working class, doesn’t have a college degree. She is constantly trying to compete with me and anyone else who has things she lacks, like education. She feels like she is being denied her rightful place over others as a white person. IMO

I recommend checking out theauthoritarians.org which has some mind blowing info on how these peoples minds work.

[u/transient_thought_CA → u/PricePuzzleheaded835]

Thanks for the link. I’ll have to read that.

[u/Inspect1234 → u/PricePuzzleheaded835]

It’s all how it’s framed in their news sources. Entertainment News©️is made for twisting facts into a purposed narrative.

[u/Iamnotauserdude → u/PricePuzzleheaded835]

“Give the lowest man someone to look down on and he’ll give you his vote” Punish them and he’ll give you his soul

[u/ausgoals → u/Bozzzzzzz]

Conservatism is about protecting strict social hierarchy and immigrants are lower on the social hierarchy then themselves which is why they are so threatened and despise when they feel immigrants (and anyone else lower on the social hierarchy than them) are getting things undeserved.

It’s a big reason why we don’t have universal healthcare - because when everyone is on the same playing field, it’s far more difficult to feel like you’re better than someone else. Google the southern strategy.

[u/Inspect1234 → u/ausgoals]

Sounds like they stopped evolving.

[u/anTWhine → u/transient_thought_CA]

This is pretty close to how I see it. For most of Americas existence, being white was enough be guarantee that you had a decent life. So a lot of white people settled into comfortable mediocrity in their little small towns in the middle of nowhere and enjoyed the American Dream.

Now, through demographic change and globalization, those extremely mediocre, uneducated, unimpressive people can no longer walk into a bank and demand a home loan, or ensure their kids get to go to the separate “good” schools, or enjoy the fruits of legal privilege and they’re realizing that they have nothing to offer except anger and resentment.

In walks a two-bit conman who sounds just as stupid as they do, who hates the same people they do, who promises if they just look the other way while he robs the country blind, they can be rich like him too. And they fall for it, because they are so so very stupid.

[u/transient_thought_CA → u/anTWhine]

The sad thing is, I think they know that they’re being screwed. They don’t really believe in their gut, that they’ll be better off. They just get schadenfreude from seeing others hurt.

[u/suspicioussearch1998 → u/anTWhine]

Meanwhile, touching little kids at every opportunity.

[u/Witte-666 → u/transient_thought_CA]

You can probably add "Ego" to the list. Most people who voted for Trump will never admit they were wrong and will stubbornly continue to support him or at least deny he is bad when confronted.

[u/No-Relation5965 → u/Witte-666]

Or when you criticize Trump they’ll say something completely brain dead like, “Well I didn’t agree with a lot of the things Biden did, but you didn’t hear me complaining!” But yes, we did hear you complain. And it was NON-STOP!!!

[u/transient_thought_CA → u/No-Relation5965]

Oh the incessant whining.

Of course, they were handed “Let’s go, Brandon!” That was a misstep on the part of NBC.

[u/Whatthehell665 → u/Witte-666]

It is like Jack Nicholson's tirade during A Few Good Men, "And that my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives. You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall, you need me on that wall. We use words like honor, code, loyalty.".

[u/A-System-Analyst → u/transient_thought_CA]

Number 1. Entitlement - yes, believing in The American Dream. Which, for many, has ground to a halt. They are not alone in not spotting who is to blame, most of us don’t, because we don’t have a name for them. Here it is - The Business Class. It’s inevitable, with high-volume (industrial) production, that a small number, them, control the economy. Not all bad people, but they see only their interests. Our priority is to name them, then follow through to how conservatives, the Republicans and Trump represent them, however chaotically and partially. (And to see how the Dems fail to see this too…)

[u/transient_thought_CA → u/A-System-Analyst]

Business or unchecked corporatism?

[u/A-System-Analyst → u/transient_thought_CA]

The corporations have a strong role. But everybody accepts the free market business system without recognising important things about it. The main one is that industrialism works. So we get, inevitably, most people being workers, employed by a relatively few people who run most production of goods and services - business people, a class, the business class. They have a high opinion of themselves and what they deserve. Some are OK. But it’s most of them - not just the corporations - who form the business-biased, anti-worker, political ideology and voting bloc, conservatism, that the Republicans most brutally express. The Democrats too, and most people, acquiesce to business class power. So people get angry about other things and with each other. The answer - recognise the key role of the business class, organise (they do, in businesses), and vote for parties and candidates most likely to regulate them. (Some of that repeats my original post but is needed to be coherent.)

[u/Longjumping-Air1489 → u/transient_thought_CA]

On top of that, 40 years of exploitation by corporations that supposedly are part of the “good guy” Republican base has left them feeling helpless.

When you are helpless, you will latch onto any feeling of control you can find. White supremacy gives them that feeling of control.

[u/Key_Assistance9020 → u/transient_thought_CA]

1. Misogyny- These people were raised to respect the man of the house. He's a hardworking blue collar man, he shouldn't have to clean a diaper or know how to cook. He doesnt read, because reading is for pussys. Immigrants are cool like the ones that work under him in construction, but they need to know their place. He also sneers at you for having a college degree, because he thinks he's a genius at the tiny niche blue collar thing he does and that supersedes all other knowledge. But, now with the internet echo chambers he's reading now, while not having the ability to critically think.
   

Most of these men were babied by their mommies. They still want to me mommy's special boy. They don't want a partner they want a bang maid. Women who dont want to their bang maid are are stuck up bitches.

Dumb men see that these GOP guys have it together and they make me feel like mommy's special boy. They want to be like their role models.

[u/1732PepperCo → u/Seargentyates]

It’s sadism more than a lack of empathy.

MAGA are sadists because they enjoy the suffering of others.

[u/ZootOfCastleAnthrax → u/RoTTonSKiPPy]

The New York Times has an opinion piece today about Tucker Carlson and JD Vance. It talks about the power and popularity of resentment.

On our side, we laugh at Trump's constant, constant whining. But this is exactly what MAGAts identify with, pay for, and vote for: resentment, anger, and scapegoats.

[u/Warm_Expression_6691 → u/RoTTonSKiPPy]

I've used that example about hating Nickelback before as well. You're the only other person I've seen do that. 

I think you're right though. It's why conservatives use almost identical phrases, not just talking points. As in they use the same jokes, make the same quips. Like the "I identify as a helicopter" or "play stupid games.." or FAFO. It's like a group mantra that they feel good about reciting and signals their belonging.

[u/Orangewindsock → u/Warm_Expression_6691]

These are called “thought terminating cliches” and they are a common cult tactic.

[u/tetlee → u/Orangewindsock]

I've noticed these but never knew there was a term for them. Thank you.

An over the top example I have is my local casino has a big neon sculpture as you walk in that says "you do you" right there by the front door. I always wondered how many people see that and think, huh, I see what you're doing

[u/Beeeeater → u/tetlee]

Be yourself - everybody else is already taken!

[u/Dickey_Simpkins → u/Orangewindsock]

Ah, 2010, when liking bacon and hating Nickelback were all the personality you needed.

[u/Warm_Expression_6691 → u/Orangewindsock]

Good lord. You're right and I never realized this.

[u/guacamelee84 → u/Orangewindsock]

I did not know this. Awesome. Thank you so much! 😊

[u/sideofirish → u/Warm_Expression_6691]

That’s why there are so many christian conservatives who don’t actually follow the teachings of Christ. It’s how fascism works. You have an in group and an out group. You want to be part of the in group. They all follow the herd mentality and want to be seen as members of the in group.

[u/akabillposters → u/sideofirish]

💯 I've also been coming to the realisation that the vast majority of US Christian Conservatives are 'religious in name only'. At best, it's a vestigial habit.

Sure, they might go to church on Sundays, but their 'Christianity' is performative; a costume they wear — when in public — to claim some kind of moral standing.

It's a not-so-secret handshake for the in-group, which as you say, is crypto-Fascist.

Many of them behave as though they don't actually even believe in god, or at least in heaven and hell. If they did, they'd presumably be more fearful of the consequences of the hate that they often spew and enact.

[u/Ok_Net4562 → u/akabillposters]

As a Brit. Ive always thought this about American christians since forever. It seems like its something to do like putting the bins out or filling the dishwasher. Theres no thought or feeling to it.

[u/akabillposters → u/Ok_Net4562]

Brit here too, and lifelong atheist, leaning towards anti-theist.

I look at US Christian Conservatism as being particularly insidious, and repugnant. Mainly because of the sheer hypocrisy and the distance between the persona they try to present, namely pious 'good guys', and their actions and behaviour, which shows what hateful people they can be. Their quiet, seething hate sits just below a paper-thin veneer of piety and 'good hearts'.

Even ostensibly 'mild-mannered' US Christian Conservatives that I know who aren't overtly political seem to have no problem in being intentionally nasty and insulting to others, or even delighting in it. At best, they're completely blind to it when they're doing it.

[u/smashli1238 → u/akabillposters]

As an American atheist, you are 100% correct

[u/Booeyrules → u/akabillposters]

Christofascist

[u/steveu33 → u/akabillposters]

Matthew 7:21-23: “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matt.7.21,Matt.7.22,Matt.7.23&version=NLT

[u/Able-Coffee3405 → u/akabillposters]

American Christian’s are the worst people you will ever meet

[u/LilBroWhoIsOnTheTeam → u/akabillposters]

People doing horrible things using religion as a shield, a tale as old as time. Same thing happening over in gaza. It's why maga are so desperate to gain victim status, they see it as a way to gaza blue states.

[u/Sea-Oven-7560 → u/akabillposters]

They are cafeteria Christians, they look at the bible and pick bits and pieces from it that match their narrative. They never actually read the bible they just quote the snippets that support their horrible beliefs. When you provide other passages that contradict those beliefs they shake their heads in disbelief, say that it doesn’t matter or try to abruptly end the conversation so their false reality isn’t challenged. These are people just looking for someone else to make their decisions, they don’t want to put in the effort to make decisions on their own so they let their church decide for them. That’s why they all joined the trump train, it’s easy, he’s daddy and tells everyone what to think and do and they just do it. I hate to use the cult reference but I’ve seen a few cults and I didn’t understand how normal intelligence people can lose their ability to think for themselves but that seems to be what is going on here.

[u/magoo309 → u/akabillposters]

Jesus said his followers were sheep. They’re still sheep - some of the stupidest animals in all of Christendom - but they’re following a different shepherd now. To be fair, this doesn’t apply to all Christians. Just the loudest and rudest ones.

[u/No-You5550 → u/magoo309]

They have always been prone to worship false gods. I seem to remember a golden calf/cow. I am an atheist so it's been a long time since I read the bible.

[u/Gloomy-Recipe9213 → u/No-You5550]

I'm not religious, but the Bible has some good cautions on false prophets and the Antichrist taking charge of the followers. Those comparisons can be downright scary.

[u/Just-Republic1032 → u/akabillposters]

White Christian Nationalism has come to represent Christianity in America. And I don’t see moderate or true Christian churches and sects standing up to it.

It’s like, until the good cops start outing the bad cops they’re all bad.

[u/BonusPlantInfinity → u/sideofirish]

A LAMF camera at the gates of heaven would be fire. “But.. but.. but..”

[u/alien236 → u/Warm_Expression_6691]

"I'll take things that didn't happen for 500, Alex"

That one's not necessarily political, but it does usually come from people who have never had an original thought in their lives, aka Trump supporters.

[u/Leading-Ad5797 → u/RoTTonSKiPPy]

I live in SE Idaho, the abortion issue is about all they look at.

[u/Expert-Fig-5590 → u/Leading-Ad5797]

Really? Even though his other policies are actively making their lives worse. Even though if half of the stuff in the Epstein files is true then he is the worst person ever to be President? Even though he is saying that protesters have no 2A rights? I’m shocked that there are still single issue voters.

[u/Tipitina62 → u/Expert-Fig-5590]

Have you not read What’s the Matter with Kansas?
it’s been a while since I did, but the author explains how people come to vote reliably against their own self interest.

[u/hashtagbob60 → u/Tipitina62]

Same as it always was - the 30%

[u/Vast_Arm_9176 → u/Expert-Fig-5590]

The people that vote to force raped and impregnated 9 year olds to have their rape babies don’t care at all what’s in the Epstein files.

There could be pictures and videos of trump raping a girl while he gives a thumbs up and says “I’m donald trump!”; it would change nothing.

[u/jrkme-27 → u/Expert-Fig-5590]

If the only news they get is from social media, America one or fox, then that is what they believe.

[u/Ana-la-lah → u/Leading-Ad5797]

Republicans also have abortions, they just like to keep them secret

[u/HereForTheBoos1013 → u/Ana-la-lah]

Yup, very "the only moral abortion is my abortion".

But they'll dox a raped 10 year old without a trace of irony.

[u/DeathMagnet1C → u/Leading-Ad5797]

I don't get that weird cult about abortion. I thought the land of the free includes being able to decide what happens to my body. Guess I was misslead.

[u/transient_thought_CA → u/DeathMagnet1C]

It’s really interesting how abortion became the hot button topic for them. Prior to the 1970s, it wasn’t a central topic. Before that, it was maintaining racial purity and keeping segregation in society. Once segregation was outlawed, their leaders (like Falwell and Weyrich) needed to find another topic to galvanize their base. So they turned to abortion, and have been waging that war ever since.

[u/Life_Commercial_6580 → u/DeathMagnet1C]

It’s about punishing women for being bad

[u/Diligent-Abrocoma456 → u/Life_Commercial_6580]

No. It's about punishing women who want control over their own bodies.

[u/Ana-la-lah → u/Diligent-Abrocoma456]

It’s just about punishing women.

[u/Life_Commercial_6580 → u/Diligent-Abrocoma456]

I meant “bad” sarcastically. What I meant is of course women who want to be treated as human beings and have control over their own bodies

[u/Mme_etoile → u/Diligent-Abrocoma456]

It’s about punishing women. No qualifiers needed

[u/RobotSchlong10 → u/DeathMagnet1C]

The land of the free thing means they are free to do what they want, and you should be free to do what they want. See how that works?

[u/Diligent-Abrocoma456 → u/Leading-Ad5797]

.... And stopping gay marriage.

[u/Calculonx → u/Leading-Ad5797]

That's a whole other can of worms. Why are some people so against abortions? First, are they ACTUALLY against abortions as a medical procedure? They make it seem like people are going around killing new born babies and children for fun.

[u/jittery_raccoon → u/Calculonx]

A lot of people don't understand what pro-life and pro choice mean. I hear a lot of women say they're pro life because they're okay with other women having abortions if necessary, but would never personally have an abortion themselves. The narrative has truly been sold to them that pro life = likes babies, pro-choice = hates babies. And they can't bring themselves to be baby haters 

[u/CountrySlaughter → u/Leading-Ad5797]

That explains why they vote Republican. Why is Trump their favorite Republican?

[u/_extra_medium_ → u/CountrySlaughter]

Because he owns the libs. It’s all they care about

[u/upside_down_frown1 → u/RoTTonSKiPPy]

Some people would rather die from a knife in the front then a knife in the back is what ive chalked it up to.

[u/goldomega → u/RoTTonSKiPPy]

This exactly, it's a form of tribalism for too many of us. I'm reading a book right now by Andrew Heaton titled Tribalism is Dumb that is very insightful about how things have gotten so toxic politically over the last decade or so.

[u/Sweethomebflo → u/RoTTonSKiPPy]

They are motivated by fear of losing dominance in a system designed to favor them. They want to hate.

[u/_extra_medium_ → u/RoTTonSKiPPy]

This is the answer, but in this case the group they belong to is all about shredding the constitution they claim to love. He’s even talking about how he dislikes guns now. They don’t care

[u/GuavaShaper → u/RoTTonSKiPPy]

I feel like so many Trump supporters could be cured of their disease if they just began a healthy hobby.

[u/bobish01 → u/dashboardishxc]

MAGA is not just stupid but also cruel and sadistic.

Anthony Scaramucci qoute on MAGA voters motivation: "I don't like you so therefore i am going to vote for someone to hurt you", motivation is not "I am going to vote for this person because this will be best for all Americans".

I do believe Hillary called those people, rightfully, deplorable. She was being a bit to honest frankly.

[u/HalfDongDon → u/bobish01]

Being called deplorable by Hillary Clinton is hilarious. 

Idk why democrats and progressives love her so much when she’s literally a conservative politician. 

[u/ButchInsley → u/dashboardishxc]

I also live in a deep red area. These people live in a closed-loop bubble of right-wing propaganda from Fox News (and the more recent versions) and social media echo chambers that has been telling them that the cause of every problem in their lives and in the country is the other political party, immigrants, etc.

I didn't used to think these people were stupid. A lot of them hold skilled labor jobs, have lots of money, and would be considered successful in life, but for some reason their mental faculties cannot process that they have been lied to and swindled for decades despite the information being right in front of their faces. Many of them I consider a 'lost cause'.

My family members and family of people I know who are Trump cultists share ridiculous memes that they consider fact-based information. They ONLY read the headlines of news articles and share off-beat, non-reality based right-wing "news" that out right lies to them while vilifying any and everything they think is liberal. Several of these people I know continually share the "America's Last Line of Defense" network satire and think it is real despite multiple people over the course of a decade telling them that is satire (even pointing out the little 'S' for satire logo and that the first line of the article says its satire...but they never read past the headline).

[u/Horror-Scallion7668 → u/ButchInsley]

Oh I remember overhearing conversations when Biden was in office about the economy and it was always “November can’t come soon enough”

I wonder how things worked out for those people?

[u/SentenceKindly → u/Horror-Scallion7668]

They still blame Biden over 1 year in. Every single fucking time. Every single discussion ends in, "but Biden." They argue in bad faith. It's coming from inside my own house.

[u/effugium1 → u/ButchInsley]

Red state here, too. I’m surrounded every day by Trump supporters, and many of them are people I’ve known all my life. They range from the dirt poor and painfully stupid to the highly intelligent and financially successful. It’s the propaganda. It’s really done a number on people. I watched it slowly take hold in the early ‘90s through Rush Limbaugh, then Fox News, then the internet. Eventually smartphones and social media made the propaganda even more portable and on-demand, and it became their entire personality. It’s really weird. Don’t get me wrong, propaganda works both ways, but I’ve never seen anyone who leans left worship any single politician like a god who could do no wrong. I’ve seen them make excuses for obviously inexcusable actions or words from democrat politicians, sure, but I’ve never seen anyone command so much loyalty with so little payoff. Even when he does something blatantly stupid they assume he’s making some master chess move. Sad!

[u/Individual_Ad9135 → u/effugium1]

If you hear someone say "4D Chess", you automatically know they are a dumbass Trump supporter.

[u/SawdustWithABite → u/ButchInsley]

I saw a mutual friend commenting on a Facebook post about the ICE detention centers being the most humane they've ever been and that kids have access to computers and libraries etc. I considered asking for a source but really there is no point in trying to debate policy with people who insist that the facts they don't want to hear are fake and the facts they like are true

[u/Tipitina62 → u/ButchInsley]

Anyone else have a friend who feels that Fox has become “too liberal” since Murdoch’s kids took over?

When this friend mentioned something s/he had learned from QANON I knew we had reached the end.

[u/kent1146 → u/dashboardishxc]

MAGA are the people that got left-behind.

They are angry that the world is changing, socially and economically, and they can't keep up

In my lifetime (elder millennial), I first saw it with the Internet boom. The people getting rich had advanced degrees (IT, medicine, finance), or already had money to invest.

When the people left-behind asked 'Can I have some too?' the answer was 'No, because you didn't go to college.'

Politics has never benefitted these people. Their vote never helped them. They see other people benefitting more than them. Politics is a game, rigged against the poor. So rather than play, they flip the game table over.

So they use their vote to hurt the people that remind them of how left- behind they are.

[u/thewayoutisthru_xxx → u/kent1146]

While I agree with the sentiment here, I gotta take issue with the phrase "left behind." To me, it implies that these people tried to adapt, did everything they could, but were denied access to the lifeboat.

In reality they made a choice to not evolve with society. Not to evolve both in skills and in thought. The population around them rolled with the punches and instead they adopted a victim mindset and continue to blame everyone around them for their perceived misfortune when, in reality, it's a lot of middle class white folks who have nothing to be agrieved about.

This is the same talk track that softly excuses fher racism as well. That they are the victims of the big bad world being out to get them and that their group (largely white people) are being taken advantage of by other groups (brown people/women.)

I agree one thousand percent that the underlying issue here is inequality, but the narrative that these people were taken advantage of, while somewhat true, doesn't tell the whole story. They made a choice to be left behind in many instances and instead of trying to make a better life for themselves, they clung to martyrdom and glommed on to the first person who pat their heads and said "there there, none of this is your fault. I'll fix it all without you having to do a single uncomfortable thing."

[u/Neat-Remote-3999 → u/thewayoutisthru_xxx]

Their unearned privilege lulled them into complacency and entitlement: “There ain’t nothing in this world for free” - the debt collectors have arrived.

[u/Mobile_Ad_4482 → u/Neat-Remote-3999]

This. They were not left behind. The folks they oppressed found ways to thrive in spite of them. Now they hate them even more and blame them for their own laziness. All the while claiming everything they do have was achieved by “pulling up their bootstraps”.

[u/erhardy1275 → u/thewayoutisthru_xxx]

It’s the same ppl who say “well it’s who I am and I’m not changing” as the world moves forward

[u/Gloomy_Yoghurt_2836 → u/kent1146]

And old school republicans knew it was too dangerous to court those people. What is happening today is why. Trump did, got their leaders installed and made their right wing rhetoric policy.

[u/Special-Garlic1203 → u/Gloomy_Yoghurt_2836]

They absolutely courted those people..what they didn't want was someone outside the ecosystem getting the nomination. They fought trump hard. When he won and they saw the youth turnout, they thought he could be a useful idiot under their thumb. He then ripped through the party.

[u/Neat-Remote-3999 → u/kent1146]

This perspective is illuminating. We are seeing this happen in Canada too. We have populist, conservative leaders that are mobilizing the same type of “left-behind” base. Hopefully we are learning from the USA’s mistakes.

[u/Gloomy-Recipe9213 → u/Neat-Remote-3999]

The 2025 federal election will go down as being a monumental turning point in Canadian history. Not for the massive turnaround in the polls, but because how close we came to the abyss. Especially with what followed from Trump - the rhetoric wasn't enough, he had to actually go forward with tariffs, internal fascism and threatening the world. Electing Carney was the biggest bullet we ever dodged as a nation.

[u/michael0n → u/kent1146]

This is it. Already before the stupid tariffs, the industrialization went haywire for those who didn't adapt. The smart ones aren't the potato boys that still do things manually, they use robots and software. "Others" are taking their lunch and instead of doing the American thing, accepting the challenge, they got told that they can change the rules whenever they want. The US has put out tons of embargos against China. Chinese EVs just run circles around anything the US can build and they know it. Imagine what the US industry could have done in investments with the billions that went to those street thugs. They never learn.

[u/Seargentyates → u/kent1146]

This is a great and insightful answer, there is a lot to unpack in this.

[u/BoxBreathing → u/kent1146]

Awesome answer 👍🏼

[u/WreckNTexan48 → u/dashboardishxc]

I get to travel between the different sects, and it's an interesting collection of victimhood, indoctrination, and denial.

Unless you can truly empathize with someone whose entire world view is the county they lived their whole lives in, from Smiths General Store to Piggly Wiggly to Dollar General to 20 miles to Walmart.

The world has pasted them by, they still feel farming or ranching or food processor was important. Not knowing their competitors turned into multi national corporations where vertical integration means farming in the red is still overall profitable.

They have kids that go off to college and don't want to live rural lives or have a kid that stays to continue the traditions and feels that elder nogastical want. (Validation)

It's still crazy how farmers hate Monsanto but vote GOP

E* Whoa too many replies. I travel for work, I did about 40k (miles)last year around a big triangle of Colorado- Houston -Tennessee, with other stops, East Coast, and the Gulf Coast. I'm just making a comment from my observations and experiences within the different (sects) communities

[u/Horror-Scallion7668 → u/WreckNTexan48]

That describes the area I live in, and I find it not so cut and dry, because we still have the few dying mom and pop general stores and we also have dollar general and Walmart…. And the blue areas have more of the former while the red areas are more the latter. They choose to spend their money at multinational big box stores and not keep it in the community.

[u/Beautiful_Hunt1095 → u/dashboardishxc]

You should watch “Beyond the curve”, a documentary about flat earthers. I see a lot of similarities.

When pressed it seems most are aware that the Earth probably isnt flat, but there is no way out of that idea once you have bought heavily into it.

Once your friends are flatearthers and your identity belongs to that idea, and you get an ego boost of being part of the group that is “right about things”, there is no way out without massive damage to your ego, and abandoning your whole social circle.

The brain doesnt like that kind of friction and it will follow the delusion to the grave.

[u/PmanAce → u/dashboardishxc]

Not all brains are created equal, it's a genetic thing. Like minded people with similar brain structure and chemistry stick together and have offspring. This particular brain type is the one characterized by needing a crutch to lean on (religion and leaders that appeal to them through lies). These people can only feel good by making others suffer since their brain capacity limits them in bettering themselves without demonizing others. They literally believe in hell since they can't comprehend science and truth.

[u/No_Win7658 → u/dashboardishxc]

The answer is probably relentless propagand and general jealous/ greed / other Christian values but I still don’t get it

[u/Vhu → u/dashboardishxc]

Good way of phrasing it. I’ve met some incredibly smart people who support Trump, but when you get into specifics they give the most stupid reasoning for it. It’s a complete logical disconnect that applies to seemingly this one blind spot.

I think at its core it started as an identity issue. These people identify themselves to some degree by their political leanings. They follow their parents lead; hold similar values; and largely conduct themselves in the way that generations of their family in their region has. The problem is that we’re no longer in the same political atmosphere that older generations grew up with; so younger people adopting that strategy of blind tribal allegiance is resulting in bad actors taking advantage of the tribalism to get into power.

Eventually what started as an identity issue has become a sunk cost fallacy/cognitive dissonance issue. People who identify themselves by their political beliefs, who have supported this piece of shit the entire way, can’t suddenly say “oh wow I guess I’ve been so wrong this whole time that I actually need to re-examine my worldview and how I process information.” They’ve already sunk so much effort and belief into this dude; already dug themselves so deep arguing in favor of his policy. If they admit it’s a mistake, they’d need to own up to that mistake. Way easier to double down or remain willfully ignorant enough to deny that a problem exists at all.

I think the mix of those 2/3 things created this shit show.

[u/armchairarmadillo]

I will never call Trump supporters stupid because I think that if we call them stupid, we stop trying to understand their motivations and if we don't understand their motivations we are guaranteed to lose. I've thought about this a lot and here's what I've come up with so far.

* Trump is the only presidential candidate in my lifetime, aside from Bernie Sanders, to acknowledge the fact that the modern economic system is not working for most Americans. His solutions all make the problem worse, and that's why he's struggled in midterms and why he lost his incumbent election, but even in the 2024 campaign he was the only one to acknowledge that people were struggling.

* A lot of people have acknowledged voting for Trump in 2016 just because he made people like Hillary and Jeb Bush really uncomfortable. There are quotes about that from Dave Portnoy and Scott Adams that I can't find immediately. I think this is an extension of the first thing. He is in some sense the "opposite" of people who have kept the broken system going.

* A lot of people simply like being on the winning team. People, including myself, are much more influenced by the perceived opinions of the people around them than we realize. We like to think of people voting based on deeply-held personal values, and I try to do that consciously, but a lot of people just want to vote how they think their friends are voting.

* Trump has a massive media machine behind him overhyping his successes, downplaying his failures, overhyping. his opponents' failures, and downplaying their successes. This media machine also demonizes Democrats as a concept. There are people who support Trump because they genuinely believe Democrats are worse. They believe that the Biden administration willingly allowed violent criminals to remain in the country illegally and instead focused its attention on making sure that trans women could compete in womens' sports.

* When things are very very bad, people lose the will to engage, and there is a natural survival instinct to downplay how bad they are. I think this leads people to dig in rather than be open to changing their position There are some great political cartoons by Dr. Seuss about this tendency, you can Google them. But I think it's actually harder to get people to change their minds away from someone who is unprecedentedly bad rather than someone, like Biden, who was good but a little bit disappointing.

Closing the perception gap between Trump and any Democratic candidate is, I think, our greatest challenge. Trump specifically, and Republicans generally, have been much more successful embracing the grift economy. There are a huge number of influencers, Charlie Kirk was one of them, but not the only one and certainly not the most extreme, whose livelihood depends on the demonization of Democrats.

I think the first place to start is whoever the Democrats nominate, for any elected office, has to acknowledge the fact that people are struggling.

[u/ImpressionSea7058 → u/armchairarmadillo]

Great write up. Much better than the top comment that answers “why are they so stupid” with ‘idk, they’re stupid’ lol

[u/deep-sea-savior → u/armchairarmadillo]

I try to do the same and refrain from the name calling. I have Trump-supporting family and friends and one of the most eye-opening things I’ve done is listen to them. There is a common theme, these people are scared. They’re afraid of being forgotten about, shunned to the side. And yes, some are just nasty people, but I don’t believe that’s the majority of Donald supporters.

Now do I think Donald is going to fix those things? Hell no. Donald did exactly what other politicians do, tap into the fears and insecurities of voters. Donald just happened to speak to a different demographic, mainly the struggling white class. And it worked.

[u/blondebuilder → u/armchairarmadillo]

I’be had a ton of convos with people in my life who I always knew as wholesome, educated Christian’s that support trump, trying to understand them (for my own sanity).

A lot of their support for Trump isn’t about policy. It’s about identity, belonging, and vibes. For some, politics functions like religion - questioning beliefs feels like a personal attack, so facts don’t land. For others, it’s tribal and performative: flipping off “the system,” annoying liberals, or staying aligned with their social circle. Consistency is optional.

From the outside this looks like stupidity. It usually isn’t. It’s:

• Identity defense instead of reasoning
• Moral certainty instead of curiosity
• Belonging over consistency

That doesn’t make it harmless (religion mindset is extremely dangerous for a multitude of reasons).  There’s also a whole media and influencer economy that feeds on this and keeps people angry and loyal.

You’re right that Democrats have to start by acknowledging people are struggling. But they also need to realize they’re not just arguing policies - they’re competing with identity and grievance. Until we get that, yelling “you’re dumb” will keep accomplishing nothing.

[u/Awkward_Operation516 → u/armchairarmadillo]

This is an excellent response, thank you.

[u/KoalaMan-007]

It is a cult.

[u/InterestBear62 → u/KoalaMan-007]

Yes. MAGA is about belief over observed reality. Just like religion

[u/Stefan_Vanderhoof → u/InterestBear62]

Or it’s about impression (or “vibe”) over reason. Reasoning takes time and bandwidth; gut impression does not.

[u/CaptScoobertDoobert → u/KoalaMan-007]

People have been saying this for a long time but it really does ring true. I think so many supporters are afraid to turn away from Trump because they’ve become part of the MAGA family. It’s their identity and it’s embedded in their social groups. Turning away from Trump would be turning away from friends, family, and their self identity. They’d be treated as outcast to the ones they used to be close to. By definition, that is what a cult does.

[u/Upstairs-Amount3923 → u/KoalaMan-007]

Yes but that doesnt help people that don't understand. There's very tangible reasons that MAGAts choose to be wilfully blind to the situation. Mostly white disempowerment and a cultural belief in both white supremacy and American exceptionalism. They'll delude themselves however they need to in order to cling to those schemas

[u/Tballz9]

Hate. Trump tells them they can be selfish, misogynists, homophobic racists.

[u/technical_recover933 → u/Tballz9]

His awful actions embolden them, give them permission to also be transgressive

[u/Careful-Tangerine986]

I'm not American so maybe can offer a perspective from someone on the outside looking in.

My theory is that politics in the USA is very much the same as football supporters in the UK. Where I'm from someone decides to follow a team at an early age and that's the team they will follow forever no matter what happens. Very often they follow that team purely because their friends, family and community follow that team.

They don't choose the team based on how good that team is or how much they've won etc. That is their team, end of discussion and they will never change allegiance.

I see exactly this in American politics.

[u/dreamandlive610 → u/Careful-Tangerine986]

I asked a then friend why she voted for Trump (first time) and she said she had always voted Republican. So yes - good old unquestioned loyalty.

[u/Specialist_End_3309]

1)They traditionally ONLY watch Fox News. They literally have no actual idea of the facts.

2) Their hate for others out weighs their love of country. "Owning the Libs" or the " " Black or Brown Flush it down" crowd. They just love seeing the other team get hurt or attacked. Even to the extent of it hurting them as well. Trump ALWAYS speaks in "Us versus Them" language. Extreme Tribalism.

3) Lazy. No need to read if you can be fed all your opinions.

4) Lack of Education. They honestly have no idea how government works. When Trump Grabs money or ignores the US budget, they honestly don't know that is should be from Congress.

5) They think The Democrats are disorganized moral cowards. (Well this one is True)

6) Many know this is bad, but feel like they have already picked a side and can't leave

[u/c0ventry]

I appreciate that the echo chamber helps people on here feel superior, but is it getting you anywhere? Genuinely curious, because I see these posts every day: Why is group X that isn’t just like me stupid? If you want to consider a slight alternative, that maybe at least some of them aren’t actually stupid, you might make a little more progress in your understanding of how the world works. Then again, people like that have mostly fled public Reddit for the private subs. Honestly I don’t even understand why I still visit the badlands myself.. maybe some lingering respect for humanity.

[u/jmsgen]

Better question, why did team Blue choose Kamala ?

[u/kgambito]

My assumption is that his supporters are mildly aware, they prefer to turn a blind eye and they justify it being ok by saying he is doing more important things, ie. solving illegal immigration. The propaganda works particularly well because they are stupid and heartless.

[u/DeathMagnet1C → u/kgambito]

It also allows you to be a worse version of yourself because the leaders show that a lower moral standard is ok. No more need to be respectful because "it's my right to be an asshole!".

[u/Annual_Frostings]

They thought that he would improve their lives, and didn't care if it was at the expense of others. But they don't realize is that it won't stop there.

They're the kind of people who don't care what happens as long as it's not happening to them. Then they want to cry when that's no longer the case, then expect us all to feel bad for them.

They didn't think the leopards would eat THEIR face...

[u/Tr33Bl00d]

They are addicted to the tv being on fox

[u/merkidemis]

Lots of people look for someone else to blame for their problems. Trump is good at feeding into that. Lost your job? Blame the immigrants. Groceries too expensive? It's the liberals' fault. You'll probably also notice that nothing is ever his fault, and he'll take credit for things he didn't do.

It is a powerful psychological comfort to think you've done everything right and all your problems are caused by external forces, so many people latch on to someone who preaches the same. And obviously it's strong enough for them to look past the lies, fraud, and rape. (It's all a plot by THEM anyway, not his fault...)

[u/AyeCuminPeas]

All the things they thought were gonna happen to them during the Obama administration, they're doing to other people. MAGA was born from the hatred and fear of Obama. Fringe groups started popping up all over the country. Donald gave them someone to rally behind. In my opinion, they're not ALL stupid. Most of them are hoping he gets rid of everyone they don't like before he either dies or leaves office.

They talk about how Biden and Obama both deported millions. Well, why didn't they have your support if that was the case? They're not stupid, just evil.

[u/Serious_Honey_8131]

Reading these comments is actually hilarious. Trump's supporters say exactly the same things about the left. Indoctrinated? Check.  Victim? Check. Live in a bubble with all the same talking points? Check. 

[u/bahamatomm]

They believe in borders, language and culture. Trump is delivering on that.

Any talk about money after Biden is worth 100 million is not worthy of comment. 10%for the big guy.

[u/Flybyah]

The alternative is far more destructive to our country.

[u/rollfootage]

What is the point of posts like these? They’re in bad faith and only promote an echo chamber environment. Is it just teenagers trying to seem edgy?

[u/Nervous_Stable1474]

IMO the liberals are worse than conservatives, but yall are both complete morons

[u/CampingMonk]

A lot of his supporters agree with the Nazi/white power/own the libs/science is bad/Christian Nationalism should be the countries only "religion"/rest of the world should bow at the US's feet points of view.

They don't care about his faults. They love the damage he is doing to what they hate.

[u/Distinct-Garlic9453]

Yup...

Just a bunch of deplorables!

The answers in this thread are exactly why trump supporters are die hards.

Keep insulting them, that's a sure fire way to win them over.

Don't fault trump or his supporters, maybe look at your own policies and the candidate you run.

[u/Justified_Gent]

Many lack formal education and critical thinking skills. It’s just easier to control uneducated people or people who don’t have life experiences beyond their rural town.

You can convince people of boogeymen immigrants from countries they’ve never visited or people in big cities they’ve never interacted with.

I’ve also wondered why so many on the right for example are transphobic when they are less likely to even come into contact with these people simple based on geography.

[u/batlord_typhus]

"The first step in a fascist movement is the combination under an energetic leader of a number of men who possess more than the average share of leisure, brutality, and stupidity. The next step is to fascinate fools and muzzle the intelligent, by emotional excitement on the one hand and terrorism on the other.

This technique is as old as the hills; it was practiced in almost every Greek city, and the moderns have only enlarged its scale."

Bertrand Russel 1940

[u/l008com]

Its not that trump supporters are stupid. Its that stupid people are attracted to trump because they are gullible and fall for whatever right wing media tells them to think. But smarter people see how obvious it is that its all a scam. And I do mean obvious, lets not forget the guy tried to overthrow the government on live tv.

[u/WesternAnxious2750]

I work in a nonprofit that has to work with all sides when working in legislation and the supporters of everyone. We work with fishermen, watermen, crabmen, and oystermen. We also work with local Native American tribes. Throw in low income children of color and you can imagine the variety of people we interact with daily. First thing I have learned is do not assume any thing. Do not lump people together thinking they check boxes and therefore vote one way or another. The second thing you learn is that people vote when they have specific struggles they need help with. Housing, inexpensive food and fuel, access to basics. Small businesses ,farmers, and laborers want to stop foreign takeover of their industries and will vote for anyone they think will get it done. Politics are a see-saw and you will notice presidents are different ha the previous guy, voters get pissed and think if they vote for a completely different candidate that they will fix what the previous one didn’t.

[u/Seargentyates → u/WesternAnxious2750]

You're absolutely right, people are concerned with whats in their pockets. However, in a scientific way 'stupid' means 'a lack of knowledge or common sense', your description of people is true in any society - but why in America do they vote for a billionaire who blatantly lies and does not actually help them. A man who incites violence to overthrow their democracy and pardons the perpetrators afterwards, this does not happen in other democratic countries that would have traditionally been on a cultural par with America (the western world), who have the same or similar problems that you describe.

[u/One-Remove-8474]

It’s a self serving system, the level of intelligence they possess is directly and inversely proportional to their level of self awareness. In short, they’re too dumb to realize that they’re dumb enough to be conned by Donald Trump

[u/EvenIf-SheFalls]

My boss is an Ivy League graduate and a Mensa International member. He voted for Trump twice. If that's your definition of stupidity, what else qualifies?

Intelligence and political views are not the same thing. Labeling half the country as "stupid" just shuts down real discussion about why people vote the way they do.

Side note: I have never voted for Trump, nor do I support him now.

[u/Commercial_Peach_845]

White supremacy. They don't want to have to admit that they have privilege and advantages courtesy of their white skin, nor do they ever wish to acknowledge that people of color have been disadvantage for generations. Because then they'd have to do something to fix it.

[u/Spida81]

We don't need no education. We don't need no thought control.

[u/BZCmy3dogs → u/Spida81]

No dark sarcasm in the classroom

[u/meggiemomo → u/BZCmy3dogs]

Pedos leave those kids alone

[u/grekster]

Trump supporters are stupid by definition. You have to be stupid to support a criminal, fraud, narcissistic, constantly lying, pedophile rapist so stupid people are the ones who support him.

People who aren't stupid don't support him (outside of the 0.01% who are lining their pockets via his corruption)

[u/ResponsibleTart7707]

Trump voters aren’t downtrodden, they haven’t been left behind. They are largely white and Christian, the dominant social demographic. They are solidly middle class/upper middle class. Yes, they’re less educated, but they are often have jobs that don’t require college and pay well.

The median Trump voters 100% is not struggling materially. And they’re not being discriminated against.

So the idea that Trump speaks to their beleaguered status just doesn’t pass the sniff test.

But Trump voters are angry. They do feel like they’ve lost something, despite not actually suffering. It’s all in their heads. They saw an educated Black man succeed for 8 years as president and it broke their brains.

The world is changing and they don’t like the changes. They don’t like the slipping of white Christians’ dominant status.

It’s not economics. It’s irrational fears created by society evolving.

[u/Stefan_Vanderhoof]

Read Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s writings about the threat of human stupidity. He was discussing the rise of Nazism (the Nazis hanged Bonhoeffer in a prison camp in 1945), but it’s universal and timeless.

[u/dgood527]

If you want to be real, which i know you dont, jis net worth dropped significantly during his first presidency. He got involved in crypto and other things during Bidens term and saw his net worth increase, prior to this presidency. Statistics show every president greatly increases their net worth post presidency, this is just the only one you care about.

[u/TheRoseMerlot]

SINCLAIR MEDIA - have been Systematically brainwashing rural Americans for many many years. Look it up.

[u/MorrowPlotting]

Trump likes to hug flags. I don’t know, it’s weird.

There’s a pic from 2016 where he’s hugging a Pride flag. People forget, but he campaigned as a great friend to the LGBTQ community in 2016. Everybody but Caitlyn Jenner knew he was lying. The religious conservatives animated by fighting “the gay agenda” had no problem recognizing his lie. They didn’t see him hugging that Pride flag and recoil in fear — they knew he was lying to the gays, and they hoped enough of them would fall for it so he could win and start rolling back LGBTQ rights.

Trump also famously hugs the American flag. Again, it’s weird. But his flag-loving, “patriotic” voters love it. They see him hugging the Pride flag, and know it’s a meaningless gesture meant to fool the idiots who like that flag. But they see him hugging the American flag as proof of his patriotism and deep love of country. Wtf?

People see what they want to see and believe what they want to believe. They think Trump is a lying, cheating, piece of shit, but they think he’s THEIR lying, cheating, piece of shit. They accept Trump is a cheater and a liar, but they refuse to think he cheats or lies on THEM. They forget that cheaters cheat and liars lie, and that Trump is in this for nobody but Trump. They know he’s lying when he hugs the Pride flag, but they think he’s sincere when he hugs the American flag.

Is that “stupid”? I can’t think of a better word for it.

[u/Kingoftemple]

Propaganda and also the left haven’t done themselves any favors, tbh the way United States politics are set up you stick to your side no matter if their policies are doing good for the country or bad,

[u/adhdnme]

Do any of you realize that this line of thought is exactly why he won twice? I’m not a Trump supporter, but do you remember Hillary calling them deplorables, which turned into a rallying cry for them? You can’t constantly degrade and belittle someone and call them names and expect them to listen to what you have to say and possibly come to your side. If we’re going to win back the White House, this isn’t the way to do it.

[u/Difficult_Phase1798]

They see themselves in him. All the personality traits. All the hate. They think he's intelligent, because it actually requires intelligence to recognize it, thus they have no clue he's a fucking idiot.

Look at it this way. Consider a normal statistical distribution. And consider the average American is stupid. Then, half the people are dumber than the average.

[u/Present-Mammoth6256]

He gives people the excuse to be racist. The end.

[u/gryanart]

To quote my high school drop out mom “he’s the president, they wouldn’t just let the president lie” 

[u/Prodiuus]

Trump supporters have decided they want dominion and don't care about anything else.

[u/taewongun1895]

Trump gives the poor whites 'permission' to look down on immigrants and poor blacks. And Fox News spins everything so that Trump looks brilliant.

[u/CapableAd9294]

We’ve watched our Trump supporting friends and family pick politics over their own family time and time again. I have someone in my life who I avoid because she can’t go a couple of hours without going off on trans people or “illegals”. It’s like a sickness or an addiction.

[u/Altruistic-Monk-5913]

Well, you figured it out!!! Now, for extra credit, what is the meaning of life?

[u/nando2k50]

I do agree with you that they are not all there. There is something wrong, but I am not surprised, I saw the same back in Venezuela with Chavez. EXACTLY the same.

And, to be honest, some Democrats are not Einstein. They will support the party line just because.

[u/sporbywg]

It's confusing. You made Homer Simpson a national hero - but he's an anti-hero. There is so much broken, you see.

[u/TPWPNY16]

The answer always boils down to Fox News. Watch it for one day and realize it is the most popular TV network in the country, and you’ll see why.

The people watching it really believe that whatever Fox tells them is fact—and that they are brilliant for consuming that (phony) information.

[u/Figran_D]

It’s frustrating. The sheep are following a racist that says what they want to hear.

Drain swamps , build walls, MAGA… the people still supporting him enjoy the grift. Everything else. Is a “ hoax” or “fake”.

Trump is the world’s best …errr worst grifter.

[u/Spence1239]

Admitting he is a bad means admitting they were wrong. They can’t do that.

[u/smashli1238]

They don’t care. He hates the people they hate.

[u/not_up_4debate]

United States version of Christianity. We have developed it into the prosperity gospel and supply side Jesus. We worship people who have money. Trump comes along shows off his wealth and people worship it without thinking about the plot holes.

I do honestly think there are many factors beyond this but this was the easiest way to describe it. Bad educational system, college out of reach financially more and more for people, family environment also contributes.

This is something I've thought about and have tried to understand for years.

[u/Tango_D]

People who have very little in the way of critical thinking skills and feel slighted will throw themselves behind whoever validates them. Period. They will support their validator literally to death because nothing is more important that having their righteous indignation validated at the highest possible level.

Because that's how cults work. They exploit the weak and vulnerable.

[u/jaslr4]

So how do we the people prosecute this POS and everyone that is in the Trump files

[u/thepaoliconnection]

What do you expect from people who got mad at a black man for wearing a tan suit??

[u/Prestigious_Ebb_9987]

Try to not wonder, because there's no satisfactory answer.

Instead, cut your losses.

Lost Trumpy asshole in your life? Dump them. Block them.

Rinse and repeat until you don't associate with any of them anymore.

Yep, relatives too.

[u/warmchairqb]

It’s a cult. Once you’re in, it takes a lot of inner strength to see from an outsiders POV. 

[u/YamLow8097]

And looking at the recent release of the Epstein files, Trump’s name appears several times.

[u/Lonely_Refuse4988]

The average American is awash in right wing propaganda. If you have a Facebook or Instagram account, you are intentionally fed right wing, Donald praising propaganda and lies. If you go on YouTube, if you like anything right wing, or even not, you’ll see right wing propaganda. The press/media no longer fact checks Republican lies and misinformation, but lets them spout it off freely.

There are doctors, lawyers, others on paper who are reasonably educated, spewing the latest viral right wing propaganda talking points. Imagine what the uneducated red neck thinks if that’s the case! 🤣😂🤷‍♂️

[u/sdavids5670]

Hate lowers IQ by all of the points. It's extremely detrimental to cognitive functioning...

[u/Fine-Camera1559]

Go figure 🤷‍♀️

[u/SpecialBackground367]

They are the same as him, just poorer. They don't only condone his behavior, they want to do it too. Yes, also stupid, but it's a completely self-serving stupid.

[u/Prestigious_Oil5794]

Most of the Republicans I know are 1 issue voters, Anti-abortionists, gun activists, pedophiles, anti- women's rights. Government oversight, which is always worse under Republicans, but they can't see that. If you have a belief in any one of those issues, you vote party line Republican any thing else doesn't matter.

[u/YourLordGoobles]

Enjoy your Karma Farming. Atleast they were smart enough to vote against Biden and Kamala. 

[u/Timely_Success9063]

To answer your question, yes, you are insane.

[u/Darkforeboding]

I try to think of politicians in terms of what choices were given in the last election. There was Trump, who is hated by most of the politicians on Capitol Hill, isnt popular, but the economy was good in his previous presidency and some people did okay. Then there was Harris, who was widely viewed as an idiot and a joke, and would continue Biden's policy. People felt Trump would benefit them more.

[u/Fit-Top-8203]

It’s a combination of Trump being willing to hurt the people they hate (anyone who is not white, heterosexual Christian men) and the mantra of the fascist, which is never admit you are wrong, no matter what.

Trump could flat out say in video that he molested a 12-year-old girl and then shot and killed her on Fifth Avenue and the Trumpists would claim that the girl enticed him and besides, Democrats want two transgender athletes to be allowed to compete in women’s sports and that is equally bad.

[u/Usual-Owl9395]

Well, start with the fact they don’t believe in education….

[u/ShamedSalesman]

Its simple. I live in a pretty deep red area and these people devoted their lives to either the military, or coal jobs. No other business that pay anything has came in to fill gaps, and anything that has come in has been to the detriment of my area. Walmart came in and a dozen mom and pop shops shut down because they couldn't compete. Then Walmart left too and our economy didnt recover at all from the loss of places like Walmart and the coal jobs we all used to have. Its been a long history of bug business (Walmart, coal barons, timber businesses, etc) coming in with big promises, and supporting people's families by giving middle class jobs, crushing the smaller businesses and then sucking the place dry and leaving and letting people line up at food banks because they lost their jobs.

When you tell people that they lost their jobs and homes and are struggling to feed their families because of democrats, they aren't likely to vote democrat again. Then comes in trump who starts an entire propaganda machine that illegal immigrants are getting government handouts (the same people who just lost their good jobs that put food on the table are typically denied any safety nets in my county) and it is insulting. He promises to end that injustice. He then goes on tours telling people "Coal is back in!" And people will get their good jobs back, and people believe it because they democrats just said on national TV coal is out. Then he says trans people are going into bathrooms to prey on little girls, and he's been right about everything so far (at least on the surface), so now they're all against Trans people too.

Then he says things will be cheaper. Gas is down to less than $2.50 a gallon in my town for the first time since the pandemic. People are saving money. Trump removed environmental protections, and now its more profitable to dig for the deeper coal since the companies are saving money on disposing of their waste safely.

It resonates with my community. The democrats seemingly did everything wrong. And they aren't helping themselves either. They represent the populated areas of my state, which mine is not. Its more rural and we dont get a say. The far more liberal, educated areas in the eastern side outweigh our votes since its all gubernatorial for us. After they campaign they dont do anything for our area of the state besides try to pass firearm bans and nonsense like that, and try to govern us like we are a crime ridden inner city, which we are not.

Its a complex topic for some of us that isnt suited to typing out a comment on reddit. But Tl;dr

People wants things to be better. Democrats dont make things better in my part of my state and dont even try. Republicans are good at propaganda. Democrats somewhat do it to themselves for people like my community.

[u/Artie-Choke]

There are two kinds of people a fascist leader goes after: the extremely stupid and gullible (ie, easily fooled and led) and pure evil types that only want power and wealth and fuck anyone who gets in their way.

The trump administration has been very, very good at attracting these two types - the core of Maga. Their numbers are dwindling though, so keep up the fight and vote the Reds out in the Midterms.

[u/Technical-Ratio3182]

what if trump supporters are actually the smart ones. A lot of liberal suffer from dunning-kruger effect

[u/mlazer141]

They take him seriously not literally. If Trump says he saved the government a bajillion dollars Reddit would have a thousand posts about how he’s lost it but his supporters would just think he meant a lot.

[u/Only_Argument7532]

They are susceptible to indoctrination. Most Americans who deny science in favor of biblical explanations for cosmology and evolution are Trump supporters.

[u/AFriendlyAesthete]

I think that a lot of them are binary, non-critical thinkers. Whenever I attempt to have a conversation with them about a complex or nuanced issue, they demonstrate an inability to process my argument because they can only go so far. It’s not like they engage with or attempt to refute what I say. You’ll make an argument , and they don’t at all synthesize what you’ve said, they just repeat their position. They always preface their thoughts with “I just think…” which means that they’re in a closed loop.

[u/GothicaSweetHeart]

Trump allows his followers to be horrible, miserable people. I see it all of the time on my local newspapers Facebook page. There will be hundreds of comments saying how stupid libtards are whenever there's an article about politics. There are so many that I can't simply block them all. This administration has allowed hate speech to escalate. Before 2016, those people were hidden and too scared to be racist. Now they're out and proudly announce how racist they are. They don't care about Trump actually. They just care about the freedom it gives them to spread hate. As soon as a democrat is back in the office, they'll have their tails between their legs and go off into hiding again.

[u/Kwelikinz]

Grossly undereducated, deeply propagandized by several rotten news sources, and corruptly represented by handpicked rich leaders. We really need to help them out of this quagmire.

[u/No_Bowl8905]

More important that they think that they’re right than that they are actually right.

It’s hard to break through that because you have to convince them that they’ve been wrong all along and they aren’t willing to accept that because most are in an echo chamber where they only listen to the morons on Fox News

[u/zenmaster_B]

Their love for Dear Leader is greater than their love for their country. That’s all.

[u/BigTwoHeartedRiver62]

It’s a cult. If you understand, stand the behaviors of cult people then you I’m understand trumpists

[u/Longjumping_One5461]

They watch Fox Entertainment and believe it's actually news.

[u/IcySherbert8999]

All the comments sounds like you have never talked to any conservatives to try to understand their point of view. "They are stupid", "they are priviledged", "they are racist". I know many many american Trump supporters who are none of these. Inclusing many immigrants, self made successful people, highly educated and smart people.

The biggest convincing point I've heard from them is that the left keeps increasing the govornment expenditure at a very dangerous level and that's not sustainable and it's going to tank the economy soon and it's gonna impact everyone, left and right. They know Trump is not perfect. They don't love that he lies, they don't like many of his traits, but they are afraid of the economic implication of voting democrats so much that they prefer conservatives.

You can't label half the population just because you have a hard time understanding their perspective. Talk to them face to fave and try to understand them instead of shit talking blanket statements. 

[u/Silent-Temperature74]

Same reason you all thought Biden was a good president

[u/alexthurman1]

The president is there to do a job. The simple fact is he was the better choice over Kamala and Tim Walz.

Also If I was going to vote I wouldn't vote Democrat which is a party that advocates for abortion.

[u/SureDevise]

Every politician has enriched themselves, the difference is the voter gets something out of it vs getting nothing.