The most unsettling aspect of the Trump supporter phenomenon isn’t merely their acceptance of falsehoods; it’s the fact that they inhabit a completely different reality. What is obvious becomes suspect, the unbelievable is deemed credible, and scientific inquiry is dismissed as a joke. Institutions of learning are seen as biased.
In my attempts to engage with some of these individuals online and better understand their perspectives, I often found that when I inquired about the sources of their information, they either couldn’t cite a source or shared a meme or a link from a dubious website. One woman, a friend of a friend, claimed on social media that the Trump administration had accomplished “more for the LGBT community than any other president.” As a queer person who closely follows LGBTQ+ issues, I found this claim perplexing. When I challenged her for specifics, she told me to “do my own research,” to which I replied that I had already done so. She then suggested I “use a different search engine,” asserting that “the media only vilifies Trump and never covers his real actions.” I responded with data from the U.S. government’s official site and the GOP platform that illustrated clear discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community.
Afterward, I reached out to my friend to see if this woman was merely an internet troll or someone she knew. It turned out she was indeed an acquaintance, someone with whom my friend likely interacts regularly.
A significant portion of our population not only refuses to entertain any negative views about Trump but has constructed an entirely different reality to support their devotion to him. This phenomenon didn’t occur in isolation; Trump himself has systematically eroded public trust in traditional institutions. By making promises he couldn’t fulfill—like “Mexico will pay for the wall” and that COVID would “disappear”—he sowed doubt in credible information sources. This created a vacuum of trust: if they no longer have faith in established sources, whom can they trust?
How Trump Cultivated an Information Void
His attack on journalism was the starting point. By labeling any media that contradicted him as “lamestream media,” he instilled doubt in his followers about the reliability of the news they once trusted. This tactic was essential for maintaining their loyalty, especially as neutral news outlets began fact-checking and exposing his inaccuracies.
Trump’s skepticism extended to the scientific community as well. Knowing that his supporters equate the stock market’s performance with economic health, he questioned the guidance of health experts advocating for strict COVID-19 lockdowns—measures that would negatively impact the stock market. His rhetoric led some followers to believe in outlandish conspiracy theories, claiming the pandemic was a coordinated effort to undermine him.
Trump utilized similar fear-mongering tactics regarding the election process. He raised alarms about potential manipulation of mail-in ballots, despite evidence showing that this voting method had been implemented securely by officials from both parties. The Trump administration even created a list of alleged voter fraud incidents that, upon closer inspection, revealed only a handful of rare cases dating back many years.
In the absence of reliable information, Trump supporters have sought alternative “news sources.” When social media platforms began flagging misleading posts, many migrated to sites like Parler, where they could propagate falsehoods unchecked. They exhibit a kind of groupthink that ironically mirrors their accusations of others being “sheep” for trusting established journalism and scientific facts.
Their concept of “research” radically differs from conventional understanding. It often consists of manipulated images and leading questions that serve as assertions rather than genuine inquiries. When they demand explanations, it’s typically a veiled assertion of their own conclusions, leaving little room for dissenting views.
This mindset is alarming because once individuals decide they can no longer trust traditional sources, they must fill that void with whatever information aligns with their pre-existing beliefs. Unfortunately, this often leads to a reliance on unchecked information from fringe entities, as the possibility of admitting they were wrong is too daunting. After all, Trump, as their leader, never acknowledges his own mistakes—so why should his followers?
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In summary, the phenomenon of Trump supporters living in an alternate reality is a product of deliberate misinformation and distrust. By undermining traditional institutions and promoting conspiracy theories, Trump has cultivated a loyal following that often rejects credible sources in favor of echo chambers that affirm their beliefs, leading to a dangerous cycle of misinformation.