What is at the Core of MAGA Anger?
It Sure Wrecks Things Fast
On a warm, sunny spring Minneapolis Sunday today, my three kids, their spouses, one grandchild, a dog, my wife and I participated in the 2025 MS Walk Twin Cities. We walked to remember and honor the one million Americans who suffer from MS daily. This includes my sweet Mom, who died this past November after 45 years of debilitating MS. Several thousand others in our same shoes pounded the pathway and road along the Mississippi River together, all having raised funds for a cure someday and sharing similar stories and laughter. A community of support and empathy continues to be built. It is hearting and oh so hopeful.
Our family group had hugs and kisses and “I love yous!” as we said our goodbyes at the end. I pulled out of our parking spot on the narrow, packed side street to a driver of a white minivan facing me beckoning me forward. My window down and only inches away, I said to him chipperly, “Tight squeeze today, isn’t it?,” to which the 70-something curmudgeon replied, “You got two and a half feet on the other side, idiot!” (It was six inches, max, confirmed by my dear wife). I looked in the rearview going by - Make America Great Again on the bumper. Excellent. Happy Sunday to you, too!
Ten minutes down the road, I stopped for gas. I pulled out of the station and crossed the two lanes into a left turn lane. A white Jeep, who apparently decided I hadn’t afforded him the several football fields of space he deserved fore and aft his land yacht, redlined his RPMs and swerved TOWARD me as he went by to show me who is boss. Again on the bumper: MAGA. It’s not even 10:30 in the morning yet.
Two simple experiences on a Minnesota (Nice) Sunday. Sure, it’s normal life. But, really, is it? These may have been the only two people having a bad day who were out and about in the several million population Twin Cities. Shouldn’t we cut them some slack? But, were they the only ones? Why do things like this seem to happen with much more frequency than before Donald Trump exploded into our lives?
Trump has unleashed this, I think we all agree. Why are those sticking with Trump so intransigent? And, why so angry and wicked on a daily, even moment-by-moment basis? What has so deeply changed America in just the past ten years?
This is vexing us. Some are starting to waken to Trump’s mania and pathology. But, the majority of his base are not. They are all-in. Trump feeds something visceral in them. For some, their mistake in electing him a second time cannot be admitted. It is too shameful. OK, I get that. It doesn’t make it right, but it is logical, at some level.
But for far too many, the ability to be angry, bitter, and vicious toward others belies, I believe, either a) deep, unexamined racism and/or “otherisms” they harbor, or b) basic greed that believes Trump’s wealth will also work in their favor, and/or c) untreated trauma in the depths of their lives that they do not know how to handle, while also being unwilling to seek treatment. I would be willing to bet a majority of MAGA fit one, two, or even all three of these categories.
While we have come to the end of Trump’s first 100 days and realize it is worse than imagined, trying to get at the heart of why MAGA folks are so angry and so willing to detonate any and all social convention around common decency, mutual respect, being respectable oneself, and taking pride in being a good human being and neighbor and citizen of this country is empowerment. Having insight and information can limit our judgmentalism, as well. Yet, we cannot be willing to lose our own souls, like others seemingly have. We are responsible for being tough with honesty and standing up against the tyranny of a tin-pot dictator and his un-merry band of sycophants.
In another post, I want to go after whether you feel my three core MOs for MAGA are accurate. What else might broadly define why folks are sticking with Trump against all odds or logic? But, for tonight, how are you staying sane in these days? What have you discovered that may help any or all of us? Weigh in, if you wish.
For now, be brave! It’s in you!
Andy
Helpful comments from all. A “trauma bond” is a reality. It is a birds-of-a-feather gravitation. As we all know, shared identification with a common experience is a powerful force. It can be extraordinarily positive. But. even more, it can be profoundly destructive, particularly for those with little self-restraint. I do believe this is at work in what MAGA folks hear in common and run toward. Trump knows all too well the power of grievance. And, he exploits it continually and without conscience. It is at the core of his cultish power.
The thing that gets me: their candidate wins and instead of being happy they are still full of anger and hate - twice!
I think your reasons are accurate. I would add a couple of others: self hatred and an existential fear of death.
Unacknowledged self hatred because the gifts of success that our society celebrates have not been handed to them on a silver platter and somebody other than themselves must be at fault.
Unacknowledged fear of death because deep down inside they doubt the fundamentalist Christian promise that heaven and hell are real places and Jesus will save them.