The dynamic between Donald Trump’s supporters and his opponents can be understood through psychological and sociopolitical lenses, particularly in relation to narcissism and authoritarianism.
First off, let's talk about the mechanics of this nonsense.
The mesolimbic system, often called the brain's "reward pathway," plays a crucial role in motivation, pleasure, reinforcement learning, and addiction. It involves the release of dopamine, reinforcing behaviors that are perceived as rewarding, whether beneficial or harmful.
In the case of MaGA Trump supporters who seem impervious to reality, their engagement can be understood through this neurobiological framework:
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Reinforcement and Reward
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Trump’s rhetoric and MaGA culture provide a strong sense of belonging, identity, and emotional highs akin to addiction.
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The dopamine-driven reinforcement from rallies, social media echo chambers, and community validation makes it hard for individuals to accept contradictory information, as doing so would disrupt their reward cycle.
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Cognitive Dissonance Avoidance
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If reality contradicts their worldview, processing it would cause psychological discomfort. Instead of adapting, they double down, seeking reinforcement from the same sources that reward their beliefs.
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The mesolimbic system encourages behaviors that avoid pain—admitting they were deceived or wrong would be painful, so the brain resists.
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Fear and Threat Processing
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The amygdala (linked to the mesolimbic system) is highly active when individuals feel threatened. Trump's messaging often uses fear (immigrants, deep state, etc.), which hijacks rational processing in favor of emotional responses.
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Once the brain perceives a group or idea as a "threat," logic takes a backseat to emotion-driven responses.
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Loss Aversion and Sunk Cost Fallacy
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Many Trump supporters have invested years of identity into MaGA ideology. The mesolimbic system reinforces continued investment rather than accepting loss and moving on.
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If they absorbed exactly where they were headed (authoritarianism, personal harm, national instability), it would require them to admit a massive personal and ideological loss—something their brain chemistry fights against.
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In essence, the MaGA movement operates like a dopamine-reinforced loop, where the fear of loss, social validation, and emotional highs keep individuals trapped in an alternate reality. If they could break that reinforcement cycle, many might recognize the path they’re on and abandon it—but their neurobiology makes that extremely difficult.
Now how about this nonsense?
As of today, March 22, 2025, only a few Republican members of Congress have publicly opposed the idea of President Donald Trump seeking a third term. Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma stated he would not support Trump running for a third term unless the U.S. Constitution is amended to allow it, emphasizing that such a change should reflect the will of the American people.
Additionally, Representative Andy Ogles of Tennessee introduced a proposal to amend the Twenty-second Amendment, aiming to permit presidents who have served non-consecutive terms to run for a third term. This proposal is widely viewed as a means to enable Trump to seek another term.
However, these instances appear to be exceptions rather than the norm. The majority of congressional Republicans have not publicly expressed opposition to Trump's potential pursuit of a third term. Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska has criticized her colleagues for their reluctance to challenge Trump, attributing it to fears of primary challenges and media backlash. She emphasized the importance of maintaining integrity, even in the face of potential threats from influential figures like Elon Musk. Politico
In summary, while a small number of Republican lawmakers have taken stands against Trump's third-term ambitions, there is no widespread opposition within the party. Many Republicans continue to support Trump, reflecting his significant influence over the party.
Getting back to the direct issue at hand...
1. Trump's Narcissism and Authoritarian Appeal
Donald Trump exhibits traits consistent with narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), including:
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Grandiosity: An exaggerated sense of self-importance.
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Lack of Empathy: An inability or unwillingness to understand others' perspectives.
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Need for Admiration: Constant validation and loyalty from followers.
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Manipulative Behavior: Gaslighting, deflecting blame, and creating an "us vs. them" mentality.
These traits align closely with authoritarian leadership, which emphasizes:
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Strongman politics: A leader who projects power and infallibility.
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Control over norms and institutions: Undermining checks and balances, rejecting legal constraints.
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Demonization of outsiders: Defining clear enemies (immigrants, media, political opponents) to unify followers.
2. Why Trump Supporters Are Drawn to Him
Many of Trump's supporters resonate with his narcissistic tendencies because of psychological, social, and political factors:
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Authoritarian Personality Theory: Some individuals are naturally inclined toward hierarchical, strongman leadership. They seek order, clear rules, and an authoritative figure who claims to protect them from chaos.
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Mirroring and Identification: Many of his supporters either admire or unconsciously mimic his behavior. They see his refusal to apologize, his aggression, and his self-assurance as qualities of strength.
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Fear and Resentment: Trump validates their grievances, whether about economic hardship, racial demographic changes, or perceived cultural decline.
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Desire for Belonging: His movement offers a sense of identity and unity, with shared values and a common enemy.
3. Why Opponents Cannot Connect With Their Mindset
Those who oppose Trump generally do not share authoritarian or narcissistic tendencies, making it difficult for them to empathize with his supporters:
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Higher Empathy and Tolerance: Many Trump opponents value inclusivity, diversity, and democracy, which contradict authoritarianism.
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Analytical vs. Emotional Thinking: Trump's base often responds to emotional narratives, while his opponents focus more on rational arguments and fact-checking.
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Disgust at Narcissism: Narcissistic behavior—such as lying, bragging, or lacking empathy—is seen as repulsive rather than admirable.
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Skepticism Toward Absolute Authority: Many of Trump's critics prefer decentralized power, institutional accountability, and collective decision-making over following a singular leader.
4. The Incompatibility Between the Two Groups
The fundamental reason why Trump's supporters and opponents cannot see eye to eye is that they operate from fundamentally different worldviews:
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One side admires strength, dominance, and unwavering confidence (even at the cost of truth).
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The other values humility, cooperation, and adherence to facts and norms.
This psychological and moral divide makes it nearly impossible for each side to understand or respect the other’s orientation. Trump's supporters view his critics as weak, naive, or unpatriotic, while his opponents see his followers as manipulated, authoritarian-leaning, or complicit in narcissistic behavior.
Trump and his allies often claim that their movement is about fixing the government, shrinking the federal bureaucracy, and restoring power to "the people." This rhetoric taps into long-standing conservative and libertarian ideals about small government and deregulation. However, when we compare what they say with what they actually do, contradictions emerge.
1. CLAIM: “Shrinking the Federal Government”
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RHETORIC: Trump and his supporters argue that they want to reduce the size of government, eliminate waste, and return power to states and individuals.
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REALITY:
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Expansion of Executive Power: Rather than decentralizing power, Trump concentrated more control in the executive branch, undermining checks and balances.
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Selective Cuts: While Trump talked about cutting government, he primarily targeted agencies that regulate corporations (EPA, FDA, etc.) while expanding spending on defense, border security, and tax cuts for the wealthy.
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Project 2025: A Heritage Foundation-backed plan supported by Trump allies seeks to purge the federal workforce of career civil servants and replace them with ideological loyalists—a move that increases executive power, not shrinks it.
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2. CLAIM: “Draining the Swamp”
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RHETORIC: Trump campaigned on eliminating corruption, removing “deep state” bureaucrats, and putting the government back in the hands of the people.
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REALITY:
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Increased Cronyism: Instead of eliminating corruption, Trump filled his administration with lobbyists, industry insiders, and personal loyalists. Many of them, such as Steve Mnuchin (Treasury), Betsy DeVos (Education), and Wilbur Ross (Commerce), had deep financial ties that benefitted from their government roles.
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Weaponizing the Government for Personal Use: Trump repeatedly used the DOJ to protect himself and his allies while pressuring it to investigate political opponents.
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Profiting from the Presidency: Trump and his family directly profited from his presidency through foreign business dealings, government contracts at Trump properties, and funneling campaign money into his businesses.
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3. CLAIM: “Fighting for Freedom and Small Government”
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RHETORIC: Trump and his allies present themselves as champions of individual liberty, opposing government overreach.
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REALITY:
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Authoritarian Policies: Despite talking about freedom, Trump has endorsed policies that centralize power:
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Proposing to deploy the military against domestic protesters (2020).
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Supporting state-level abortion bans that override individual rights.
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Promoting censorship of political opponents and media outlets that criticize him.
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Using the Government Against Enemies: Trump frequently suggests he will use federal agencies to punish critics, imprison political opponents, and retaliate against perceived disloyalty.
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Expanding Federal Surveillance: Despite libertarian rhetoric, Trump continued mass surveillance programs and even tried to use the NSA and FBI to benefit himself.
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4. CLAIM: “Law and Order”
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RHETORIC: Trump’s movement claims to stand for law, order, and public safety.
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REALITY:
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Selective Enforcement: Trump and his allies want a justice system that punishes their enemies while protecting their own.
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He pardoned convicted criminals who were his political allies, including Michael Flynn, Roger Stone, and Paul Manafort.
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He demonizes federal law enforcement when it investigates him (FBI, DOJ) but uses it aggressively against others (BLM, immigration raids).
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Encouraging Lawlessness: Trump’s rhetoric has emboldened:
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January 6 insurrectionists, whom he has called “patriots.”
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Vigilante groups and extremist militias that operate outside legal frameworks.
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Erosion of accountability, as he suggests that if re-elected, he will go after prosecutors, judges, and opponents who challenge him.
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5. CLAIM: “The People Are in Charge”
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RHETORIC: Trump supporters argue that their movement is about giving power back to regular Americans rather than elites.
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REALITY:
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Elitist Power Grab: Trump’s policies overwhelmingly benefited the wealthy, with tax cuts that favored corporations and billionaires while increasing the deficit.
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Undermining Democracy: Instead of empowering "the people," Trump and his allies:
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Attempted to overturn the 2020 election.
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Spread false election fraud claims to justify suppressing votes.
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Encourage rule by force, not by democratic institutions.
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CONCLUSION
Trump and his movement promote a myth of small government, anti-corruption, and populism while enacting policies that expand executive power, protect elites, and erode democratic institutions. His supporters believe they are fighting against an overreaching government, but in reality, they are enabling a more centralized, authoritarian system that prioritizes loyalty over competence.
Brief aside:
Does Trump Have ADHD? My Professional Opinion | HuffPost Latest News
