Not only is Donald Trump a sociopathic malignant narcissist, but he also displays a trait known to victims of abuse. This dynamic is the process of “grooming” his victims to come under his influence while he violates common social mores in his treatment of them – making them think he has special regard for them as he degrades them. Even with several years of revelation of his unbalanced, irrational, anti-social, and self-serving behaviors, his followers have continued to vigorously support him.
Like any abusive predator, dictator, fascist, or general authoritarian, this president has been persistently grooming his followers for this moment with claims of having been aggrieved by the press and by political “enemies.” He claims to be the sole source of reliable information and anyone who disagrees with him is declared “false” – despite evidence to the contrary. He has persecuted or purged anyone under his power who has not fallen into line with his personal perspective and authority. This makes personal loyalty to him the measure of “patriotism.” What’s more, his followers have embraced his character defects as virtue. Morality and mental health have been turned upside down. He calls for “law and order” while fomenting anarchy.
I’ve addressed some of the connection between Trump and his followers in my earlier “Cult 45” blog essay. Another part of the dynamic cementing his followers to him is his stance of being aggrieved.
His aggrieved delusions have led to his claim that, if the election does not go his way, he has been cheated. He has engineered flagrant violations of law and various constitutional provisions (with the collusion of his attorney general), and has normalized lies, disinformation, unhinged conspiracy theories, name-calling, disrespect, and demonization of any who disagree with him. Opponents have become “enemies.” Diversity of thought and skin color have become unpatriotic. His failures are the fault of others and he demands retribution. Religious posturing is used to garner support and establish the idea that being against him is being against his god.
All leaders have a choice about which emotions they want to arouse in their followers – expansive and inclusive appreciation, or distrust, anger, fear, and hatred. It’s clear he plays on the divisive, rancorous, angry, and fearful emotions of his followers, stirring up noise that drowns out not only the voices with alternative ideas, but also their own ability to rationally evaluate what is happening around and to them.
He evidently sees the whole world as his enemy, except for those few dictatorial world leaders who have not outright criticized him. I suspect he not only envies their autocracy, but is acting out his own father issues – a much large topic than we can do justice to here.
Thus, if things do not go the way he wants them to, followers are justified in taking violent and disruptive actions to “restore law and order.” This conceit of being a “law and order” regime means that his word is law (ala Richard Nixon’s claim that, if the president does it, it’s not illegal).
He fears and therefore suppresses institutions that foster objectivity and reality such as genuine news outlets and scientists since they violate his self-aggrandizing narratives. This is part of the cult mentality: the narrative is defined by the Dear Leader, loyalty becomes a substitute for morality and patriotism, boundaries are drawn, and rancor is directed at anyone outside of the fold, with compromise depicted as betrayal. It is not surprising that his followers react with outrage when justice prevails or when things (like elections) do not go his way. His loss is their loss. Gaslighting, lies, and diversionary blame replace rationality, reality, morality, and law. His followers are as much his victims as his “enemies” – although many are willing victims because they share his aggrieved mentality. If Trump wins, we might expect retribution; if not, retaliation.