"Because the Trump movement is a cult of personality, with no consistent principles and no concern for truth, many of its boosters don't care whether success is real or phony. They don't care whether the advertised "success" actually happened the way Trump says it did. They don't care whether the so-called success achieves anything important or lasting. They don't care if there later turns out to be a corrupt underside. They celebrate peace plans that don't bring peace, trade deals that don't enhance trade."
"Because the anti-Trump side tends to care about facts, it hesitates to speak before it knows what it's talking about. There's a decent likelihood that the president's story is a lie. But what kind of lie, covering up what truth? Because the truth takes time to come to light, the anti-Trump side will be slow to respond to the pro-Trump boast and brag."
The Trump movement emphasizes personal loyalty and glorification of Trump above consistent principles, factual accuracy, or durable outcomes. Boosters often endorse claimed successes without verifying their reality or long-term impact, and they overlook potential corruption. Opponents prioritize facts, institutional integrity, and fairness, causing measured and slow responses while evidence accumulates. Concern for not undermining longstanding institutions tempers criticism and shapes rhetorical choices. The resulting dynamic produces loud, immediate celebration from supporters and cautious, evidence-driven skepticism from critics, influencing how the public perceives presidential claims and actions.
Read at The Atlantic
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