{"id":819,"date":"2026-05-09T09:00:20","date_gmt":"2026-05-09T14:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/understanddjt\/?page_id=819"},"modified":"2026-05-12T09:03:55","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T14:03:55","slug":"maga-and-trump-a-model-of-identity-fusion","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/understanddjt\/mental-health\/help-for-maga-faithful-who-wonder-about-his-words-and-behaviors\/maga-and-trump-a-model-of-identity-fusion\/","title":{"rendered":"MAGA AND TRUMP: A MODEL OF IDENTITY FUSION:"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>MAGA DEFINED<\/strong><br \/>\nThere is a common assumption held by liberals that all Republicans are MAGA and all MAGA are Republicans. Recent polling shows the split is roughly\u00a0half-and-half\u00a0in some surveys: one report found\u00a050% MAGA and 50% traditional Republican\u00a0among Republicans in late 2025. Other polls put MAGA higher, around\u00a052% to 53%, with the rest mostly identifying as traditional Republicans and a smaller share unsure. <span style=\"font-weight: 300; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">A fair shorthand right now is this:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\">MAGA Republicans:\u00a0about\u00a050% to 53%<\/li>\n<li class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\">Traditional Republicans:\u00a0about\u00a035% to 50%<\/li>\n<li class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\">Unsure\/not placing themselves:\u00a0about\u00a012%\u00a0in one recent poll<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\">It is more accurate to say the following:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\">MAGA is a dominant sector of the Republican Party.<\/li>\n<li class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\">Not all MAGA supporters are Republicans.<\/li>\n<li>Not all Republicans are MAGA.<\/li>\n<li class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\">Some independents and even a small share of Democrats identify with MAGA, though at a rate far fewer than Republicans.<\/li>\n<li class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\">MAGA overlaps heavily with the GOP, but the two groups are not identical.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The demographics of Trump&#8217;s MAGA supporters may be described as follows:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li id=\"main-profile\" class=\"font-editorial font-bold mb-2 mt-4 [.has-inline-images_&amp;]:clear-end text-lg first:mt-0 md:text-lg [hr+&amp;]:mt-4\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">At least 60% of supporters are White, Christian, and male.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"font-editorial font-bold mb-2 mt-4 [.has-inline-images_&amp;]:clear-end text-lg first:mt-0 md:text-lg [hr+&amp;]:mt-4\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">About half are retired and over 65. <\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"font-editorial font-bold mb-2 mt-4 [.has-inline-images_&amp;]:clear-end text-lg first:mt-0 md:text-lg [hr+&amp;]:mt-4\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">Roughly 30% have at least a college degree.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"font-editorial font-bold mb-2 mt-4 [.has-inline-images_&amp;]:clear-end text-lg first:mt-0 md:text-lg [hr+&amp;]:mt-4\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">MAGA supporters are not limited to rural areas.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"font-editorial font-bold mb-2 mt-4 [.has-inline-images_&amp;]:clear-end text-lg first:mt-0 md:text-lg [hr+&amp;]:mt-4\">MAGA self-identification is higher among Republican men than women.<\/li>\n<li class=\"font-editorial font-bold mb-2 mt-4 [.has-inline-images_&amp;]:clear-end text-lg first:mt-0 md:text-lg [hr+&amp;]:mt-4\">MAGA self-identification is especially common among people who are very conservative, union members, and veterans.<\/li>\n<li class=\"font-editorial font-bold mb-2 mt-4 [.has-inline-images_&amp;]:clear-end text-lg first:mt-0 md:text-lg [hr+&amp;]:mt-4\">Political ideology and political identity are better predictors of MAGA status than geography.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"flex items-center justify-between\">\n<div class=\"-ml-sm gap-xs flex flex-shrink-0 items-center\">\n<div class=\"rounded-full\">\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\">MAGA hardliners embody the following characteristics:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\">They are the most loyal and intense Trump supporters.<\/li>\n<li>They are defined by strong anti-establishment views, deep distrust of media and institutions, and a belief that America is in a struggle to be saved.<\/li>\n<li class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\">They usually see politics as a moral battle between \u201cgood Americans\u201d and threatening outsiders.<\/li>\n<li class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\">They tend to strongly distrust mainstream media and institutions.<\/li>\n<li class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\">They favor hardline immigration and \u201cAmerica First\u201d views.<\/li>\n<li class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\">They are more willing than other voters to accept extreme tactics &#8212; including violence &#8212; if they think their side is under threat.<\/li>\n<li>MAGA hardliners are usually more\u00a0movement-driven and identity-driven\u00a0 than anti-woke conservatives who are more issue-driven and culture-driven.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>MAGA hardliners compare to Mainline Republicans in the following ways:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\">Mainline Republicans are more like traditional, center-right Trump voters.<\/li>\n<li class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\">Mainline Republicans tend to look more like conventional conservatives who would support a mainstream GOP nominee such as Romney or Haley.<\/li>\n<li class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\">\u00a0are the most likely to say they are both Republicans and Trump supporters, and they are generally less extreme on issues like court defiance, punishment of opponents, and apocalyptic rhetoric.<\/li>\n<li>Mainline Republicans are less likely than MAGA Hardliners to say Trump should punish opponents or ignore court rulings, and they are less likely to endorse the strongest anti-\u201cwoke\u201d language.<\/li>\n<li>On cultural and democratic-norm questions, Mainline Republicans are usually in the middle of Trump voters rather than at the most extreme end.<\/li>\n<li class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\">MAGA Hardliners are more loyal to Trump personally, more distrustful of institutions, and more willing to back hardline or norm-breaking tactics if they think it helps their side.<\/li>\n<li class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\">MAGA Hardliners are described as the \u201cfiery core\u201d of Trump\u2019s base, with stronger religious intensity, more belief in a moral struggle, and greater willingness to punish opponents.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\">A simple way to describe the differences is this:<\/p>\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\" style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><strong>Mainline Republicans are the more conventional conservative wing of Trump\u2019s coalition, while MAGA Hardliners are the most loyal, intense, and hardline Trump movement supporters.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>That is simple enough, but we also need to understand how moderates fit into the mix. Here&#8217;s how Perplexity AI explains Republican moderates:<\/p>\n<div id=\"root\">\n<div class=\"border-subtlest ring-subtlest divide-subtlest bg-base\">\n<div class=\"isolate flex h-dvh\">\n<div class=\"flex size-full flex-1 duration-normal ease-in-out\">\n<div class=\"@container\/main relative isolate min-h-0 flex-1 overflow-clip bg-clip-border border-subtlest ring-subtlest divide-subtlest bg-base\">\n<div class=\"mx-auto flex w-full flex-col h-full\">\n<div class=\"scrollable-container flex flex-1 basis-0 overflow-auto [scrollbar-gutter:stable] scrollbar-subtle\">\n<div class=\"mx-auto size-full max-w-none\">\n<div class=\"@container isolate\">\n<div class=\"bg-base px-md @3xl:px-lg\">\n<div class=\"grid gap-x-md grid-cols-1\">\n<div class=\"min-w-0 pt-md pb-md @3xl:pt-lg @3xl:pb-lg erp-sidecar:pt-0 erp-mobile-sidecar:pt-lg erp-mobile-sidecar:pb-[100px]\">\n<div class=\"mx-auto flex flex-col pointer-events-auto max-w-threadContentWidth gap-md md:gap-lg\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-col\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-col gap-md @3xl:gap-lg w-full pt-md @3xl:pt-lg\">\n<div class=\"w-full\">\n<div class=\"w-full flex flex-col\">\n<div id=\"radix-_r_d8_-content-default\" class=\"focus:outline-none\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"tabpanel\" data-state=\"active\" data-orientation=\"horizontal\" aria-labelledby=\"radix-_r_d8_-trigger-default\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-col @3xl:gap-y-lg gap-y-md\">\n<div class=\"gap-y-sm flex flex-col\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"relative font-sans text-base text-foreground selection:bg-super\/50 selection:text-foreground dark:selection:bg-super\/10 dark:selection:text-super\">\n<div class=\"min-w-0 break-words [word-break:break-word]\">\n<div id=\"markdown-content-1\" class=\"gap-y-md after:clear-both after:block after:content-['']\" dir=\"auto\" lang=\"en\">\n<div class=\"has-inline-images my-2 first:mt-0 [&amp;:has([data-inline-type=image])+&amp;:has([data-inline-type=image])_[data-inline-type=image]]:hidden [&amp;:has(table)_[data-inline-type=image]]:hidden\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"prose dark:prose-invert inline leading-relaxed break-words min-w-0 [word-break:break-word] [&amp;_&gt;*:first-child]:mt-0 [&amp;_&gt;*:last-child]:mb-0\">\n<div data-renderer=\"lm\">\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\" style=\"padding-left: 80px;\"><em>Republican moderates occupy a shrinking but strategic space within the GOP, often acting as a bridge or buffer between the populist MAGA hardliners\u2014who prioritize Trump&#8217;s nationalist agenda, anti-immigration policies, and cultural combativeness\u2014and the mainline Republicans, who emphasize traditional fiscal conservatism, free markets, and institutional stability. They tend to align with establishment priorities like limited government and business-friendly policies but show more flexibility on social issues, representing voters in swing or blue-leaning states who prioritize electability over ideological purity.\u00a0Key Faction Traits include the following:<\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul class=\"marker:text-quiet list-disc pl-8\">\n<li class=\"py-0 my-0 prose-p:pt-0 prose-p:mb-2 prose-p:my-0 [&amp;&gt;p]:pt-0 [&amp;&gt;p]:mb-2 [&amp;&gt;p]:my-0\">\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><em><strong>MAGA Hardliners<\/strong>: Most ideological and loyal to Trump personally; view politics as an existential cultural battle (e.g., anti-woke stances held by 96% of this group).<\/em><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"py-0 my-0 prose-p:pt-0 prose-p:mb-2 prose-p:my-0 [&amp;&gt;p]:pt-0 [&amp;&gt;p]:mb-2 [&amp;&gt;p]:my-0\">\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><em><strong>Mainline Republicans<\/strong>: Party loyalists focused on optimism about America, economic growth, and GOP traditions; less personality-driven than hardliners but still Trump-supportive for partisan reasons.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"py-0 my-0 prose-p:pt-0 prose-p:mb-2 prose-p:my-0 [&amp;&gt;p]:pt-0 [&amp;&gt;p]:mb-2 [&amp;&gt;p]:my-0\">\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><em><strong>Moderates<\/strong>: Socially tolerant (moderate-to-liberal on issues like abortion or LGBTQ+ rights), fiscally conservative, and pragmatic; often Never Trump in spirit but remain in the party to influence from within or win tough districts.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p id=\"role-in-the-party-dynamic\" class=\"font-editorial font-bold mb-2 mt-4 [.has-inline-images_&amp;]:clear-end text-lg first:mt-0 md:text-lg [hr+&amp;]:mt-4\" style=\"padding-left: 80px;\"><em>Summary of moderates&#8217; role in the Republican party:<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\" style=\"padding-left: 80px;\"><em>Moderates provide balance by tempering hardline extremism, helping the GOP appeal to suburban voters and maintain governorships in Democratic strongholds like Massachusetts or Maryland. However, MAGA&#8217;s dominance over the base has marginalized them\u2014figures like Liz Cheney were pushed out\u2014leaving moderates with limited influence unless they control key swing seats. In Trump&#8217;s 2024 coalition, they overlap with &#8220;Reluctant Right&#8221; or &#8220;Mainline&#8221; voters who back him reluctantly to counter Democrats, ensuring the party&#8217;s broad tent holds despite internal tensions.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\" style=\"padding-left: 80px;\"><em>Trump views Republican moderates with suspicion and often disdain, seeing them as disloyal &#8220;RINOs&#8221; (Republicans In Name Only) who undermine his agenda and the MAGA base. He has repeatedly attacked figures like Susan Collins or Thom Tillis for deviating from his line, threatening primaries against them to enforce party unity around his impulse.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\" style=\"padding-left: 80px;\"><em>He tolerates moderates only if they deliver outcomes aligned with his priorities, but any independence\u2014like opposing certain spending bills\u2014draws public rebukes or endorsements of challengers. Trump positions himself as the GOP&#8217;s true center, reshaping the party so loyalty to him defines conservatism over traditional moderation<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: white; color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Because of these nuances, it is impossible to say definitively who believes what in the world of conservative politics. The same can be said for liberals. Nevertheless, for purposes of this page, the term &#8220;MAGA&#8221; is used primarily to describe hardline, Republican-leaning voters who identify with Donald Trump\u2019s political movement.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<div class=\"mt-md\">\n<div class=\"border-subtlest ring-subtlest divide-subtlest\">\n<div class=\"border-subtlest ring-subtlest divide-subtlest bg-base flex items-center justify-between\">\n<div class=\"flex w-full items-center justify-between mb-md\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"bg-base erp-sidecar:pt-0 erp-mobile-sidecar:pt-0\">\n<div class=\"relative z-10\">\n<div class=\"group relative flex items-end gap-0.5\">\n<div class=\"relative min-w-0 flex-1 flex justify-end\">\n<div class=\"flex items-start gap-2\">\n<div class=\"group\/title relative inline-flex flex-col\">\n<div class=\"relative\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"group\/query relative whitespace-pre-line !text-wrap break-words [word-break:break-word] font-sans text-base text-foreground selection:bg-super\/50 selection:text-foreground dark:selection:bg-super\/10 dark:selection:text-super\">\n<div><strong>HOW TRMP&#8217;S APPOINTEES AND REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS FIT INTO THE HARDLINE\/MAINLINE\/MODERATE SPECTRUM<\/strong><\/div>\n<div class=\"min-w-[48px] select-none p-3 bg-subtle rounded-2xl flex items-center justify-center\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"background-color: #fcfcfc;\">Because it is<\/span><span style=\"background-color: white; color: black;\"> not accurate to equate all Republicans with MAGA supporters or vice versa,\u00a0 Trump&#8217;s appointees with Republican legislators span a spectrum from hardline MAGA loyalists to more mainline conservatives. The overlap is strong but incomplete, with hardliners dominating Trump&#8217;s inner circle while legislators show more ideological range. The following analysis helps understand how they fit:<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"gap-y-sm flex flex-col\">\n<div class=\"relative font-sans text-base text-foreground selection:bg-super\/50 selection:text-foreground dark:selection:bg-super\/10 dark:selection:text-super\">\n<div class=\"min-w-0 break-words [word-break:break-word]\">\n<div id=\"markdown-content-1\" class=\"gap-y-md after:clear-both after:block after:content-['']\" dir=\"auto\" lang=\"en\">\n<div class=\"has-inline-images my-2 first:mt-0 [&amp;:has([data-inline-type=image])+&amp;:has([data-inline-type=image])_[data-inline-type=image]]:hidden [&amp;:has(table)_[data-inline-type=image]]:hidden\">\n<div class=\"prose dark:prose-invert inline leading-relaxed break-words min-w-0 [word-break:break-word] [&amp;_&gt;*:first-child]:mt-0 [&amp;_&gt;*:last-child]:mb-0\">\n<div data-renderer=\"lm\">\n<p id=\"trumps-appointees\" class=\"font-editorial font-bold mb-2 mt-4 [.has-inline-images_&amp;]:clear-end text-lg first:mt-0 md:text-lg [hr+&amp;]:mt-4\" style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><strong>Trump&#8217;s Appointees: <\/strong>Most of Trump&#8217;s key appointees lean hardline MAGA\u2014prioritizing loyalty, aggressive immigration policies, and disruption of federal agencies. Figures like Stephen Miller (far-right on immigration), Tom Homan (Border Czar), and Kristi Noem exemplify this faction, often tied to Project 2025-style reforms.<\/p>\n<p id=\"republican-legislators\" class=\"font-editorial font-bold mb-2 mt-4 [.has-inline-images_&amp;]:clear-end text-lg first:mt-0 md:text-lg [hr+&amp;]:mt-4\" style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><strong>Republican Legislators:\u00a0<\/strong>Republican legislators are more mixed. A majority now identify as MAGA (53-63% per polls), placing most in the hardline camp on issues like trade protectionism and cultural fights. Yet a notable mainline faction persists\u2014think establishment figures like Senate leader John Thune or moderates in swing districts\u2014who prioritize fiscal conservatism, institutional norms, and bipartisanship over full Trumpism.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>And this chart helps explain the distribution in government:<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"group relative my-[1em]\">\n<div class=\"sticky top-0 z-10 h-0\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"w-full overflow-hidden bg-raised border-x md:max-w-[90vw] border-subtlest ring-subtlest divide-subtlest\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"w-full overflow-auto scrollbar-subtle rounded-lg border md:max-w-[90vw] border-subtlest ring-subtlest divide-subtlest bg-raised\">\n<table class=\"[&amp;_tr:last-child_td]:border-b-0 my-0 w-full table-auto border-separate border-spacing-0 text-sm font-sans rounded-lg [&amp;_tr:last-child_td:first-child]:rounded-bl-lg [&amp;_tr:last-child_td:last-child]:rounded-br-lg\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"border-subtlest p-sm min-w-[48px] break-normal border-b text-left align-bottom border-r last:border-r-0 font-bold bg-subtle first:border-radius-tl-lg last:border-radius-tr-lg\" scope=\"col\">Group<\/th>\n<th class=\"border-subtlest p-sm min-w-[48px] break-normal border-b text-left align-bottom border-r last:border-r-0 font-bold bg-subtle first:border-radius-tl-lg last:border-radius-tr-lg\" scope=\"col\">Hardliner<\/th>\n<th class=\"border-subtlest p-sm min-w-[48px] break-normal border-b text-left align-bottom border-r last:border-r-0 font-bold bg-subtle first:border-radius-tl-lg last:border-radius-tr-lg\" scope=\"col\">Mainline<\/th>\n<th class=\"border-subtlest p-sm min-w-[48px] break-normal border-b text-left align-bottom border-r last:border-r-0 font-bold bg-subtle first:border-radius-tl-lg last:border-radius-tr-lg\" scope=\"col\">Moderate<\/th>\n<th class=\"border-subtlest p-sm min-w-[48px] break-normal border-b text-left align-bottom border-r last:border-r-0 font-bold bg-subtle first:border-radius-tl-lg last:border-radius-tr-lg\" scope=\"col\">Notes<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"border-subtlest px-sm min-w-[48px] break-normal border-b border-r last:border-r-0\">Trump Appointees<\/td>\n<td class=\"border-subtlest px-sm min-w-[48px] break-normal border-b border-r last:border-r-0\">70-80%<\/td>\n<td class=\"border-subtlest px-sm min-w-[48px] break-normal border-b border-r last:border-r-0\">15-20%<\/td>\n<td class=\"border-subtlest px-sm min-w-[48px] break-normal border-b border-r last:border-r-0\">5-10%<\/td>\n<td class=\"border-subtlest px-sm min-w-[48px] break-normal border-b border-r last:border-r-0\">Loyalty trumps ideology; few true moderates<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"border-subtlest px-sm min-w-[48px] break-normal border-b border-r last:border-r-0\">GOP Legislators (House)<\/td>\n<td class=\"border-subtlest px-sm min-w-[48px] break-normal border-b border-r last:border-r-0\">40-50%<\/td>\n<td class=\"border-subtlest px-sm min-w-[48px] break-normal border-b border-r last:border-r-0\">30-40%<\/td>\n<td class=\"border-subtlest px-sm min-w-[48px] break-normal border-b border-r last:border-r-0\">15-20%<\/td>\n<td class=\"border-subtlest px-sm min-w-[48px] break-normal border-b border-r last:border-r-0\">Narrow majorities amplify hardliner leverage<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"border-subtlest px-sm min-w-[48px] break-normal border-b border-r last:border-r-0\">GOP Legislators (Senate)<\/td>\n<td class=\"border-subtlest px-sm min-w-[48px] break-normal border-b border-r last:border-r-0\">30-40%<\/td>\n<td class=\"border-subtlest px-sm min-w-[48px] break-normal border-b border-r last:border-r-0\">40-50%<\/td>\n<td class=\"border-subtlest px-sm min-w-[48px] break-normal border-b border-r last:border-r-0\">15-20%<\/td>\n<td class=\"border-subtlest px-sm min-w-[48px] break-normal border-b border-r last:border-r-0\">Moderates hold more sway due to filibuster<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sticky z-10 h-0\">\n<div class=\"bg-base border-subtlest shadow-subtle pointer-coarse:opacity-100 keyboard:opacity-100 right-xs absolute bottom-xs flex rounded-md border opacity-0 transition-opacity group-hover:opacity-100 [&amp;&gt;*:not(:first-child)]:border-subtlest [&amp;&gt;*:not(:first-child)]:border-l\">\n<div class=\"flex transition-opacity duration-300 [&amp;_button]:hover:bg-transparent\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"flex transition-opacity duration-300 [&amp;_button]:hover:bg-transparent\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\">This distribution reflects MAGA&#8217;s grip on the executive but persistent tensions in Congress.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"mt-md\">\n<div class=\"border-subtlest ring-subtlest divide-subtlest\">\n<div class=\"border-subtlest ring-subtlest divide-subtlest bg-base flex items-center justify-between\">\n<div class=\"flex w-full items-center justify-between mb-md\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<div>From this analysis, it is reasonably accurate to conclude that most appointees and legislators fit into the high end of the hardline MAGA spectrum. For some, this description places them at odds with their mainline constituents.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--nextpage--><br \/>\n<strong>HARDLINE MAGA SUPPORTERS CLOSELY IDENTIFY WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP<\/strong><br \/>\nDonald Trump\u2019s presidency would not have been possible without MAGA\u2019s intensely loyal base. At the same time, Trump\u2019s political persona has been shaped by the expectations, grievances, and identity needs of that base, producing a mutually reinforcing relationship between leader and followers.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Without his MAGA base, Trump lacks the social, political and emotional foundation to stay in power. People on the liberal\/progressive side of America&#8217;s social\/political division, would do well, therefore, to try to understand what drives the MAGA base when trying to understand Trump. Failure to do so will doom their attempts to preserve American democracy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\">For many MAGA supporters, loyalty to Trump is closely linked to identity and social belonging (i.e. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.perplexity.ai\/search\/explain-identity-fusion-in-ame-zWCYwqEJSbiv2F0tq6i0ag#0\">identity fusion<\/a>.)\u00a0 As a result, choosing to separate from Trump and the broader MAGA community can feel like a loss of identity, status, and community, which helps explain the movement\u2019s strong cohesion. It is important to recognize, however, that the movement includes people with different motivations, including policy alignment, partisan loyalty, resentment, religion, and status concerns. In other words, MAGA supporters are not alike in all ways.<\/p>\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"background-color: white; color: black;\">Nevertheless, because hardline MAGA supporters are so closely aligned with Trump and each other, <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"background-color: white; color: black;\">to separate themselves from Trump and the MAGA world would mean identity loss and voluntary disassociation from the MAGA community. This identity is so strong that it is nearly impossible for MAGA supporters to even imagine life without Trump or MAGA.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"background-color: #ffffff;\">R<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">eview of the rhetoric and MAGA thinking reveals that the differences are more about character than policy.\u00a0 Trump&#8217;s character is always in view, but unspoken inferences about the character of his supporters are hidden factors that must be exposed before partisanship can be understood and mitigated.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">The main reality to be grasped is that MAGA supporters have<\/span><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> a strong <a href=\"https:\/\/www.perplexity.ai\/search\/explain-identity-fusion-in-ame-zWCYwqEJSbiv2F0tq6i0ag#0\">identity fusion<\/a> with Trump. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">It is impossible to know if President Trump identifies with his followers to the same degree that they identify with him, but whether he does or not is quite immaterial. The important thing for him is that he keeps saying and doing what they expect him to do. He understands that MAGA will remain fused to him as long as he performs to its expectations. Without MAGA support, he <a href=\"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/understanddjt\/fear\/president-trumps-relationship-with-fear-2\/fear-of-being-irrelevant\/\">fades into obscurity which is a very real fear for him<\/a>. He must, therefore, do whatever he must to remain relevant. This compulsion explains much, maybe most of his behaviors.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">MAGA&#8217;s psychology is different from liberal psychology. Because MAGA so strongly identifies with President Trump, they see attacks on him by the left and media as personal attacks on themselves. This response arouses emotional defense mechanisms that make it very difficult to separate the man from the movement or to hear criticism of him without feeling personally challenged. This process, known as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.perplexity.ai\/search\/explain-identity-fusion-in-ame-zWCYwqEJSbiv2F0tq6i0ag#0\">identity fusion<\/a>, makes political discussion highly charged and defensive rather than open and exploratory.\u00a0 The psychological factors most driving MAGA support can be summarized as follows:<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-2 mt-4 font-display font-semimedium text-base first:mt-0\" style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">1. Cultural Status Anxiety and Loss: <span style=\"background-color: white; color: black;\">Many MAGA supporters experience a deep sense of loss of status &#8212; often linked to race, gender, and social hierarchy. This creates fear and resentment of social change perceived as threatening their traditional dominance or identity.\u200b\u200b<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-2 mt-4 font-display font-semimedium text-base first:mt-0\" style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">2. Authoritarian Personality Traits: <span style=\"background-color: white; color: black;\">Traits like preference for social conformity, authoritarian aggression, and desire for dominance play a key role. These psychological tendencies amplify support for strong, assertive leaders who promise order and control.\u200b Read more about this in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/understanddjt\/deia-sdo-r-wa-and-fear\/social-dominance-orientation\/\">SOCIAL DOMINANCE ORIENTATION<\/a>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-2 mt-4 font-display font-semimedium text-base first:mt-0\" style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: white; color: black;\">3. Racialized Resentment: <\/span><span style=\"background-color: white; color: black;\">Subtle forms of racial resentment, often framed around perceived unfair &#8220;special favors&#8221; to minority groups, fuel anger and motivate support for policies and leaders promising to restore perceived fairness and status quo.\u200b<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-2 mt-4 font-display font-semimedium text-base first:mt-0\" style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">4. Social Identity and Group Loyalty: <span style=\"background-color: white; color: black;\">MAGA support is strongly tied to group identity and collective belonging, where political allegiance becomes an extension of personal and social identity.\u200b<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-2 mt-4 font-display font-semimedium text-base first:mt-0\" style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">5. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.perplexity.ai\/search\/explain-confirmation-bias-and-RQbOcqWRSRC46BgucLdG9Q\">Confirmation Bias and Motivated Reasoning<\/a>: <span style=\"background-color: white; color: black;\">Supporters seek out information that confirms their worldview and dismiss contradictory evidence. This psychological mechanism reinforces loyalty even in the face of falsehoods or disconfirming facts.\u200b<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-2 mt-4 font-display font-semimedium text-base first:mt-0\" style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">6. Emotional Craving for Retribution and Strength: <span style=\"background-color: white; color: black;\">MAGA rhetoric taps into desires for retribution against perceived enemies and the emotional satisfaction of seeing out-groups punished or marginalized. This &#8220;partisan schadenfreude&#8221; reinforces support through emotional reward.\u200b Read more about this in <a href=\"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/understanddjt\/deia-sdo-r-wa-and-fear\/4\/\">RIGHT-WING AUTHORITARIANISM (R-WA).<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">MAGA support is rooted in this complex mix of cultural, emotional, and identity-driven psychological factors which work together to create a loyal and emotionally invested base.\u200b Understanding these factors is essential for anyone seeking to engage constructively across political divides or analyze contemporary American political dynamics.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">MAGA&#8217;s emotional response to what President Trump does and the left&#8217;s reactions to what he does is triggered by the left&#8217;s rhetoric which always represents Trump&#8217;s character, his patriotism, his politics and his mental health negatively. Then, because of identity fusion, MAGA followers interpret those attitudes about Trump as though they are directed to themselves. This ongoing dynamic exacerbates the partisan divide. Both sides contribute to it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Because of these dynamics, well-meaning debates and conversations between liberals and conservatives begin by discussing policy but always end badly because the left doesn&#8217;t understand the psychology that drives MAGA. And, even if they did understand it, they would be severely handicapped in efforts to make it an issue because they are politicians &#8212; not psychologists. They understand policy and politics but don&#8217;t have a clue about the psychology that drives Trump and his followers. They know how to use facts, logic and reason when creating policy, but they don&#8217;t understand matters of the heart.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">The first thing to understand about matters of the heart is that it resists change. Momentary infusions of facts, logic and reason will not change hearts. The psychology of the heart is complex. It has been formed by a multitude of influences during its lifetime. That does not mean that hearts cannot be changed, but change will always be a slow, uneven process that is different for each individual. There is not a simple, one-size-fits-all strategy that will change MAGA hearts. These realities complicate progressives&#8217; outreach and efforts to simply talk about policy to such a degree that they don&#8217;t know what to do. They are totally handicapped. Politics as usual doesn&#8217;t work anymore.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">The second thing to understand is that the hearts of MAGA people are very sensitive to efforts by the left to change them. In a very real sense, MAGA is like a religion. Here are some of the ways it is like a religion:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"marker:text-quiet list-disc\">\n<li class=\"py-0 my-0 prose-p:pt-0 prose-p:mb-2 prose-p:my-0 [&amp;&gt;p]:pt-0 [&amp;&gt;p]:mb-2 [&amp;&gt;p]:my-0\">\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">MAGA supporters often see Trump as a messianic figure or a chosen leader fighting against forces of evil, much like religious narratives of salvation and apocalypse. This creates a powerful collective identity and emotional fervor akin to religious devotion.\u200b\u200b<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"py-0 my-0 prose-p:pt-0 prose-p:mb-2 prose-p:my-0 [&amp;&gt;p]:pt-0 [&amp;&gt;p]:mb-2 [&amp;&gt;p]:my-0\">\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Apocalyptic and dualistic rhetoric\u2014framing political opponents as wicked enemies of the people\u2014mirrors religious struggles between light and darkness or good and evil.\u200b\u200b<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"py-0 my-0 prose-p:pt-0 prose-p:mb-2 prose-p:my-0 [&amp;&gt;p]:pt-0 [&amp;&gt;p]:mb-2 [&amp;&gt;p]:my-0\">\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Rituals such as rallies, chants, and use of symbols (e.g., &#8220;Make America Great Again&#8221; hats) function as communal gatherings reinforcing group identity and reinforcing loyalty.\u200b<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"py-0 my-0 prose-p:pt-0 prose-p:mb-2 prose-p:my-0 [&amp;&gt;p]:pt-0 [&amp;&gt;p]:mb-2 [&amp;&gt;p]:my-0\">\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">The movement mixes political ideology with religious motifs, sometimes blending evangelical Christian themes with nationalist and conspiratorial beliefs (e.g., QAnon influences).\u200b<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Just as religious groups will react fiercely when their beliefs are challenged, MAGA adherents respond strongly to criticism or efforts to change their beliefs &#8212; sometimes on a near-identical pattern to historical inter-religious conflicts.\u200b <span style=\"background-color: white; color: black;\">Viewing MAGA as a religious movement helps explain the intense loyalty, emotional investment, and polarization that obstructs strictly rational or policy-based conversations. <\/span><span style=\"background-color: white; color: black;\">Political opponents attempting to &#8220;convert&#8221; or criticize MAGA supporters will trigger defensive or even aggressive responses because they are perceived as attacks on core aspects of personal and group identity &#8212; just as though the attacks were coming from another religion.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Because Trump&#8217;s supporters identify with him so closely, they are offended when others speak ill of him. Being sorely offended, they are compelled to respond in kind with derogatory words of their own about the character of liberals. And so it goes. Every spiteful word spoken by the left and right widens the gap. This is a reality that the left must understand and manage if it is serious about wanting meaningful dialogue that will lead to good government and unity. It would be good if MAGA understood these matters, of course, but that is not likely to happen any time soon.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Because MAGA identifies so closely with President Trump, it is unreasonable to expect his supporters to change their rhetoric if he doesn&#8217;t change his rhetoric and his policies. Who knows? Miracles can happen, but the left would be totally irresponsible if it waited for a miracle of this magnitude before it took the initiative to curb their own hurtful rhetoric that further divides Americans from one another.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">The left must accept that its rhetoric contributes to the erosion of American democracy when it uses derogatory language to describe Trump and his followers. It must stop feeling justified using divisive tit-for-tat\u00a0 rhetoric because that is what Trump and the right do. The left must take the high road. It must set an example for the right and indeed the entire nation by controlling its hurtful rhetoric. If the left could learn to control its rhetoric, it would model leadership and civility unlike anyone in history &#8212; except for Jesus.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">The same must be said for the media when it comes to reporting divisive rhetoric. Yes, it is news because it happened. But there must be a way to report what happens without quoting all the divisive rhetoric that incites both the left and right. How the media will do that, or whether they will do it at all, is yet to be revealed. In the meantime, the media must reckon with the truth that it is part of the problem. Media would do well to consider and apply these principles:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\" style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/understanddjt\/understanding\/productive-strategies-for-changing-hearts-and-minds\/\">PRODUCTIVE STRATEGIES FOR CHANGING HEARTS AND MINDS<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/understanddjt\/understanding\/unproductive-strategies-for-changing-hearts-and-minds\/\">UNPRODUCTIVE STRATEGIES FOR CHANGING HEARTS AND MINDS<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Liberals generally want to do the right thing. But they face a psychological and ideological conflict: wanting to understand and engage with Trump supporters while condemning what they see as intolerant, racist, or authoritarian behaviors symbolized by Trump while being wholly manifest in his supporters. This tension leads to polarized views that equate opposition to Trump\u2019s character with opposition to his followers as a group. This further entrenches division.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">This dynamic creates a polarized environment where hurtful rhetoric and personal attacks erode the trust necessary for meaningful dialogue. Both sides carry emotional baggage from these interactions, which hampers the possibility of constructive engagement on substantive policy issues. The lack of trust and the high emotional stakes lead to entrenched positions, reducing opportunities to find common ground or understand opposing viewpoints.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Understanding this dynamic is crucial for the left&#8217;s efforts to foster meaningful dialogue with the right. That won&#8217;t happen unless and until the left recognizes that criticisms of Trump\u2019s character are interpreted by his supporters as personal attacks on them. Drawing clearer distinctions between critiques of the individual leader and empathy for his followers\u2019 identities and concerns would reduce defensive reactions and create opportunities for policy-focused conversations. But the left will never understand what it needs to do until it understands the matter of identity fusion and MAGA as a religion.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p><strong>AMERICA&#8217;S SOCIAL\/POLITICAL PARTISANSHIP IS A PROBLEM FOR THE LEFT TO SOLVE<\/strong><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">America&#8217;s stark partisan divide reflects radically different perceptions of Trump&#8217;s character.\u00a0 Conservatives see Trump as a charismatic, strong leader who &#8220;tells it like it is,&#8221; in words that describe their values and worldview. Liberals, on the other hand, view him as narcissistic, irresponsible, and emotionally unstable. These contrasting personality assessments influence political division much more than policy issues.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Over time, even some strong Republicans have become more critical of Trump&#8217;s character as controversies accumulate, but the divide remains fundamentally rooted in how his character is perceived rather than on substantive agreement or disagreement on policies.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">In summary, the core of America&#8217;s partisanship is about Trump&#8217;s character and the character of MAGA followers. Even MAGA followers tend to frame the political conflict as fundamentally about character. If that were not true, they would have abandoned their support for him long ago because of his chaotic behaviors and policy swings. Their loyalty is more closely tied, therefore, to his persona and their identity than to his policies. Conversely, much of the left tends to focus primarily on policy disputes and institutional outcomes, aiming to argue for changes in governance, laws, and political direction rather than directly addressing those delicate, hard to grasp matters of character and personality.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Division in America is framed in many different ways, including policy, but it is never framed in terms of persona and identity. Division will never be healed unless and until the left understands that it is useless to argue about policy with people who are emotionally tied to President Trump.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Trump supporters tend to have strong affective bonds with him that go beyond rational policy evaluation. Their loyalty is often based on feelings of belonging, identity, and emotional trust, viewing Trump as an ego-ideal and symbolic figure who expresses their grievances and cultural values. This emotional fusion makes policy arguments ineffective because challenges to Trump are taken as personal attacks on their identity and worldview. This response reinforces polarization and makes compromise nearly impossible.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Since conservatives are emotionally invested in President Trump and, to a great degree, the Republican party, it is unrealistic to expect that they will voluntarily change their heart attitudes and political alliances. That leaves it up to liberals to adjust their strategy from arguing policy to changing hearts and minds.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Changing hearts and minds is not easy and few people know how to do it. But for America&#8217;s sake the left must learn how to do it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>MAGA DEFINED There is a common assumption held by liberals that all Republicans are MAGA and all MAGA are Republicans. Recent polling shows the split is roughly\u00a0half-and-half\u00a0in some surveys: one report found\u00a050% MAGA and 50% traditional Republican\u00a0among Republicans in late 2025. Other polls put MAGA higher, around\u00a052% to 53%, with the <span class=\"excerpt-dots\">&hellip;<\/span> <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/understanddjt\/mental-health\/help-for-maga-faithful-who-wonder-about-his-words-and-behaviors\/maga-and-trump-a-model-of-identity-fusion\/\"><span class=\"more-msg\">Continue reading &rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":56,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-819","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>MAGA AND TRUMP: A MODEL OF IDENTITY FUSION: - Donald Trump: Understanding the Man and His Followers<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/understanddjt\/mental-health\/help-for-maga-faithful-who-wonder-about-his-words-and-behaviors\/maga-and-trump-a-model-of-identity-fusion\/\" \/>\n<link rel=\"next\" href=\"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/understanddjt\/mental-health\/help-for-maga-faithful-who-wonder-about-his-words-and-behaviors\/maga-and-trump-a-model-of-identity-fusion\/2\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"MAGA AND TRUMP: A MODEL OF IDENTITY FUSION: - Donald Trump: Understanding the Man and His Followers\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"MAGA DEFINED There is a common assumption held by liberals that all Republicans are MAGA and all MAGA are Republicans. 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