As a mental health professional, I firmly believe that it is my moral duty to warn the public about mental health threats—especially when they seek to undermine the very fabric of our democracy. It is no secret that, in my professional opinion, Donald Trump is a dangerous and manipulative narcissist who is exerting authoritarian control over his followers. He is manipulating their emotions, exploiting their deepest fears and insecurities, and undermining their freedom of mind. In these final weeks leading up to the election that will decide the fate of America, we must continue to raise awareness about Donald Trump’s tactics and analyze how he was able to brainwash his followers into unquestioningly supporting his every statement and whim, no matter how ill-informed, how dangerous, or how downright criminal they may be. Thankfully, many outstanding activists are also working tirelessly to shed light on these issues ahead of this historic election.
This week on the Influence Continuum, I had the pleasure of sitting down with two-time Emmy winner Dan Partland, an extraordinary documentarian. He asked me to speak on the MAGA cult in his new film, #UNTRUTH: The Psychology of Trumpism, which will be streaming on Prime today. Dan’s new film highlights what I have been saying for years—Trumpism is not just a political movement; it operates as a destructive authoritarian cult and utilizes known mind-control techniques to disconnect Trump’s followers from reality, reinforce their loyalty to him, and silence dissenters and dissidents. In 2020, he released a film, #UNFIT: The Psychology of Donald Trump, during the 2020 election cycle.
The Psychological Impact of Trumpism
Dan and I are not alone in recognizing some of Donald Trump's most disturbing traits. The former president and once-more presidential candidate is not an enigmatic or complex figure. In #UNFIT, Dan examined Trump’s personality profile and noted how his behavior echoes prior political figureheads: authoritarian leaders. This is because Trump himself is an authoritarian leader who demands unwavering support, always prioritizing his ego above all. He alienated and ostracized many longtime friends and steadfast Republican figureheads and politicians because they dared to voice opposition to him in recent years once his influence became unassailable. Any elected Republican who seeks reelection must never criticize him, or they will risk the wrath of his worshippers—when Liz Cheney spoke out against Trump, she lost her incumbent seat in the House of Representatives in a landslide primary. Trump’s inescapable influence dominates the political landscape even outside of the Oval Office, and as an authoritarian leader, that’s precisely his goal.
His malignant narcissism is on full display, and his behavior has been easy to predict for anyone with a background in psychology or history who can recognize the patterns of narcissism, authoritarian leadership, and control. So why is it that so many Americans are blind to his faults and toxic personality? They see in him an honest Christian man despite him being a 34-time convicted felon and sex offender, a maverick who “tells it like it is” despite his lack of tact and abysmal foreign policy, and a savior who promises to restore our nation to a still-undefined and mythical state of “Greatness.” They are completely disconnected from the reality of who Donald Trump is.
In #UNTRUTH, Dan’s new documentary, he shifts the focus from Trump as an individual to the broader phenomenon of the MAGA movement. He seeks to understand how Trump enkindled such fanatical devotion amongst his most fervent fanbase. He specifically focuses on how the Trump cult excels in Information and Thought control, entrapping his followers in a web of disinformation, conspiracies, and ideological fear-mongering. The average MAGA adherent is now distrustful of any news or media that does not come from the Trump camp, limiting their news resources and ability to research or think critically, giving Trump complete dominion over their beliefs. Now more than ever, we must focus on reeducating these individuals and empowering them to think for themselves.
The Only Way Out: The Importance of Connection and Compassion
Dan says that one major critique of Trump-critical documentaries is that they “preach to the converted.” He hopes this documentary will reach those in the center, maybe even right-leaning individuals who have maintained their autonomy outside of the cult of Trump. Perhaps they can be dissuaded from voting for Trump in the interest of preserving America’s Constitutional foundations and freedom of mind despite agreeing with Trump’s Republican policies. Perhaps we can spare America from four more years of Trump’s regressive and divisive policies. No matter who wins the election in November, we still have challenging work ahead of us, freeing our friends, family, and neighbors from Trump’s influence.
Personally, I hope that you will ask a Trump supporter in your life to sit down with you, share some popcorn or grab a drink, and watch this film together. Please encourage an open and honest dialogue, asking them how they feel about this film and how they feel about Trump’s influence over their behavior, access to information, thoughts, and emotions. Do not attack or come at them with judgment; treat them respectfully, or they will retreat further down the MAGA rabbit hole. Approach them open-mindedly and offer to watch a similar documentary with them that might support their point of view. We have to offer these people an exit ramp from Trump’s control, and alienating or shaming them will only push them further into his web.
As a cult survivor myself, I know that many cult adherents are seeking a safe exit plan. Extend an olive branch and plant the seed of free thought in their minds by exposing them to some non-Trump-approved media. The election is only the beginning of the fight to free our country from his malignant influence.
Resources:
#UNFIT: The Psychology of Trump
‘God & Country’ on Amazon Prime
Rob Reiner Takes on Christian Nationalism Threat in ‘God & Country’ Trailer
Breaking the Silence: Alva Johnson’s Journey as a Director in the 2016 Trump Campaign
Exiting the Cult of Trump with #Jan6er Pam Hemphill
Former Trump Attorney Michael Cohen on His Experience in The Cult of Trump