Cult vs. Fandom

A comparison of Trump-world and the Bernie-sphere

During the past few years the Trump Administration has been characterized as a cult and Donald as the cult leader. He stands before his regularly assembled minions to address them with a reality only he can see. With one hand he creates a catastrophic scenario and with the other he claims to have the only solution. Nobody is as great or greater than he. Nobody is permitted to even pose a question to him without evoking the wrath of the despot.

At his rallies he employs all the canons of propaganda: Lie. Lie big. Lie often. Assure the audience he is the light and the way. Everyone else is trying to deceive you. Not me. You can trust me. You can trust no one else.

He employs the technique of Call and Response which is popular in Baptist and Pentecostal congregations. Can I get a witness?

Through these methods he has built a cult following who will love him regardless of his shortcomings, failures and terrible bad behaviors. They follow him even though he exemplifies and represents everything they were raised to eschew. The worse he acts the more they embrace his vile nature. In another Medium article I wrote I likened Trump to David Koresh, Jim Jones and the cult community of Synanon.