How to Deprogram the Cult of Donald Trump | Opinion

Thousands of warnings were issued against former President Donald Trump. According to polls, these warnings went unheeded. What explains his invulnerability despite clear evidence of his dangerous and glaring flaws? This question has puzzled many. As a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst who has long worked with the complexities of the psyche, let me offer psychological explanations and then suggest remedies that might help overcome this apparent impenetrability.

It gives a feeling of omnipotence. Trump makes it seem like nothing is difficult, which means being omnipotent is easy. Civil war? A piece of pie. He would have sorted it out. It’s the same with Ukraine. It does not matter that in the first case he would give up the nation, and in the second he would endanger the free world. He is a strong man who can handle anything. By extension, you can too.

It helps people deny painful realities and threats, simplifying them instead. He longs to live in a fantasy world where there are no real existential threats. Climate change? Just a big scam. Prospects and dangers of artificial intelligence? Hand over the technostate to one man, Elon Musk, who will most likely run it in the interests of the nation rather than his own. The real enemies are “outside” (illegal immigrants, cancel culture, transgender people) or “inside” (Democrats, political opponents, radical left lunatics).

It resonates with the universal experience of feeling insulted and resentful. Trump and his family appear to be no strangers to abuse. Donald Trump Jr. told a chilling story at the funeral of his mother, Ivana Trump. When he misbehaved in a restaurant as a child, she took him to the restroom to show him “what Eastern European discipline was really like.” When she finished, she said, “And if you cry, we’ll come back here and do it again.” Families who experience violence either break the cycle or perpetuate it. Adolf Hitler’s father allegedly beat him with a horse every day. Trump allows his supporters to identify with the experience of violence, his implicit promise being that it will no longer happen in his hands if you stand by his side. He will carry it away and protect his followers.

It appeals to simplistic, half-baked thinking. Immature thinking that blames others and denies personal responsibility is attractive. This means that no rules apply and you can do whatever you want. If you lose the election, insist it was stolen and incite a rebellion.

He enjoys being a provocateur. Constantly pointing your finger in the face of those who disagree with you feels good. Retribution feels good. Reconciling and dealing with unpleasant or outrageous issues is hard work. The eternal provocateur will never have to face this.

How can understanding these dynamics weaken Trump’s power? They are, at least in part, a reaction to deep-seated psychological resentment and defensiveness. Although they provide temporary relief and short-term pleasure, they are based on illusions. Here is an example of specific steps:

Speak with hidden rage. Recognize that changes in society have undermined livelihoods and left too many people struggling while others thrive, with threats aplenty that could make matters worse. Admit it: “Of course you are angry. You feel like you’re being trampled by forces beyond your control.”

Recognize the desire for protection. Trump is Tucker-Carlson’s newly dubbed “daddy” who will spank those who are bad while defending those who offer flattery. Consonance with the desire for an all-knowing, security-providing dictator helps reinforce warnings about his abuses and violations. Wait until you pay the price for your “protector” and end up in jail on January 6th, or until your social safety net is threatened, or suffer the consequences of Project 2025, or die needlessly from a pandemic, or get scammed by the University Trump, or denying your right to an abortion, to name just a few of the real or potential consequences of his careless, reckless and dangerous behavior.

Emphasize enlightened self-interest. Although the psychological approaches described above provide temporary relief and short-term pleasure, they are based on illusions and do not solve problems. No one can solve problems with empty promises, and dictatorial tactics end up destroying institutions. Achieving lasting solutions based on cooperation and compromise requires hard work, tolerance of frustration, and serious thought.

It could be argued that Trump told a big truth to those harmed by globalization, while at the same time telling a big lie that the solutions would be easy. Those who worship him must be helped to see that their rage and protectiveness are blinding them to reality. He doesn’t do much for them except make them feel good while creating serious threats. Worshiping false gods is dangerous.

Dr. Jacobson is Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Emory University School of Medicine; Training and Supervision Analyst, Psychoanalytic Institute, Emory University; and a board member of the American Council of Psychoanalysis. She is in private practice in Atlanta, Georgia.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author.