#UNTRUTH: The Psychology of Trumpism

with Filmmaker Dan Partland

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.