Why do people still support Trump in any case? 5 things to know in regards to the mindset of MAGA supporters

For many individuals, especially those from a left-wing background, it is apparent that Donald Trump just isn’t qualified to be president. This raises the query for some: How can anyone still vote for Trump?

Among the evidence Trump’s critics cite is his two impeachment proceedings, several criminal charges at state and federal level and a conviction for a criminal offenseOpponents also say Trump is a Threat to democracy, a misogynist, racistA Serial liar And a rapist.

About 78% of Democrats and independent voters with Democratic leanings say that Trump broke the law when he allegedly tried to overturn the 2020 election results. But lower than half Republicans think he did something improper.

I’m a Anthropologist for Peace and Conflictand I even have been coping with what I call the Trumpiverse since 2015, as Trump rode down a golden escalator and announced his candidacy for president. I later wrote a related book in 2021 called “It can happen here.”

Lately, I've been studying toxic polarization—and ways to stop it. Many efforts to cut back people's polarized views begin with one instruction: Listen and understand.

To that end, I even have attended Trump rallies, in addition to populist and bipartisan events and meetings where Democrats and Republicans come together and check with one another. I even have spoken to Trump supporters, from those that support the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement to moderate conservatives who need to “hold their noses and vote for him.”

And indeed, many on the left don’t understand who Trump's voters are and the way diverse they’re. Trump's base cannot simply be dismissed as racist “deplorables”as Hillary Clinton famously said in 2016, or as country bumpkins in red MAGA hats. Trump voters are likely to older, white, rural, religious And less educated. But additionally they include others outside these demographic groups.

Many people have well-considered reasons for voting for Trump, even when their arguments – as can also be true on the left – are sometimes fueled by populist polarizers and media platforms.

Here are five necessary lines of argument that, in numerous combos, influence the choice of Trump voters.

1. Media distortion

Where the left sees a lot of Trump’s failings, the best might even see what some political observers Call Trump Derangement Syndromesometimes simply called TDS.

According to this argument, the left-leaning media dissects Trump's every word after which twists what he says. I even have found that some Trump supporters imagine that folks who feed an excessive amount of on this supposedly biased media weight loss program can get TDS and develop a passionate, perhaps illogical, antipathy to Trump.

I even have also heard hardcore Trump supporters argue without evidence that such “fake news” media like CNN are a part of a larger deep state conspiracy the federal government to undermine the need of the people. This conspiracy, in keeping with its proponents, includes not only leftists, government bureaucrats and folks who claim Republicans, but probably notbut additionally people in law enforcement.

Some Trump supporters also consider his claim to be justified, he’s being wrongfully persecutedas some see the defendants of 6 January be pursued.

2. Bread on the table, money within the bank

“Are you higher off than you 4 years ago?”

For many Trump voters, the reply to Ronald Reagan’s famous query is evident: “No.” You remember Trump’s time in office as one in every of the tax cuts, Economic growth And Highs on the stock markets.

It is true that the whole variety of employees and average wages rose under President Joe BidenBut for some Trump supporters, this economic boom pales as compared to the large rise in inflation during Biden's term in office. Prices rise by almost 20%. While the Inflation has recently easedPrices remain high – voters are reminded of this day by day within the supermarket.

Polls also show that Trump has a giant lead over Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris relating to handling the economy. a significant concern of votersespecially Republicans.

3. A border invasion

Another reason some Americans need to vote for Trump: immigration.

Like inflation, the variety of The variety of illegal border crossings increased under Biden.

This massive influx of “illegal aliens,” as Trump calls themfell on his lowest level in 4 years in July 2024. This got here after the Biden administration made it tougher for immigrants to Apply for asylum on the US-Mexico border, a policy measure that’s consistent with the approach of many Republicans.

In 2022, a poll found that 7 out of 10 Republicans They feared that the “open borders” were a part of a Democratic conspiracy to expand liberal power by replacing conservative whites with non-white foreigners.

Trump has exploited the largely unfounded concerns of some those that immigrants living illegally within the United States are free riders and is not going to assimilate, because the recent – ​​unfaithful – Allegations that immigrants eat pets Ohio.

In 2022, 82% of Republicans said they viewed immigration as a “very important” issue. Trump continues to advertise his proposed solution, which incorporates closing the border, constructing a wall and deporting 11 million immigrants who’re within the USA with no residence permit.

4. A proven track record

Some Trump voters simply compare the records of Trump and Biden-Harris and find that the result’s clearly in Trump's favor.

And it's not only in regards to the economy and immigration.

There were no recent wars under Trump. Biden-Harris, then again, are burdened with Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Israel's invasion of Gaza. Trump's supporters have the impression that American taxpayers to bear a big a part of the prices, although other countries Give money to Ukraineand Israel is actually buy weapons from the USA

I even have found that Trump’s supporters also think he is healthier suited to take care of the growing power and threat from China.

5. The MAGA bull within the china shop

While some Harris supporters bemoan Trump's destruction of democracy and decency in politics, my experience is that Trump voters see him as a charismatic MAGA bull in a china shop.

Precisely because Trump is a relentless pugilist or a fighter – as he showed when he returned to the Assassination His supporters imagine that he ought to be elected – as was the case against him in July.

Some even see him as a savior who will save the USA from an apocalypse of the “radical left”.

For such Trump supporters, MAGA just isn’t only a slogan. In the Trump universe, it’s a movement to save lots of an America on the point of failure.