“It’s a Cult” — And What That Really Means
By Steve Thomas-Patel
Developer
We’ve all heard it said—many of us have been saying it for years: “It’s a cult.” But what does that mean, really?
When people describe a political movement as a cult, they’re not being dramatic. Political scientists have long studied the phenomenon of the Authoritarian Cult Leader—a figure who blends dictatorial control with a carefully constructed, often fanatical, personality cult. These leaders aren’t merely strongmen; they build systems where loyalty replaces law, emotion replaces evidence, and the leader becomes the truth.
Sacha Baron Cohen’s satire The Dictator pokes fun at these bizarre, often cartoonish personalities. But in reality, history offers no shortage of deeply destructive examples:
- Adolf Hitler (Germany)
- Joseph Stalin (Soviet Union)
- Mao Zedong (China)
- Muammar Gaddafi (Libya)
- Kim Il-Sung / Kim Jong-Il / Kim Jong-Un (North Korea)
- Saparmurat Niyazov (Turkmenistan)
- Idi Amin (Uganda)
- Francisco Franco (Spain)
- Pol Pot (Cambodia)
Traits of the Cult Leader
These figures share chilling patterns of behavior, many of which political psychologists have mapped in detail:
Messianic Self-Image
They see themselves not just as leaders, but as saviors.- Hitler believed he alone could rescue Germany.
- Mao was called the “Red Sun.”
- Trump told supporters, “Only I can fix it.”
Total Control of Truth
They rewrite history, distort science, and suppress dissent.- Stalin erased political enemies from photographs.
- Trump declared factual reporting “fake news.”
Iconography and Ritual
Statues, portraits, slogans, pledges, daily broadcasts—constant reminders of the leader’s presence.- In North Korea, children are taught songs praising the Kim dynasty.
- Niyazov renamed months after himself and placed golden statues around the country.
Loyalty Above All
Truth doesn’t matter—loyalty does.- Trump demanded loyalty from FBI Director James Comey, who offered “honest loyalty.” It wasn’t enough.
- Cabinet meetings turned into ritualistic praise sessions.
Emotional Manipulation
They prey on national trauma, pride, and fear. They style themselves as protective father figures.- Franco fused Catholicism and nationalism to portray himself as Spain’s moral guardian.
- Trump frames opposition as a threat to America itself.
Narcissism and Megalomania
Obsessed with personal greatness and incapable of admitting error.- Trump’s obsession with crowd size.
- “Sharpie-gate.”
- Relentless denial of loss—even after dozens of legal defeats.
Repression of Identity
Civic institutions are dismantled. Loyalty is enforced through indoctrination.- Hitler Youth. Mao’s Red Guard.
- In Trump’s world: party members who step out of line are purged.
Manufactured Charisma
Whether through media manipulation or fear, they build the illusion of charisma.- Gaddafi projected prophetic mysticism.
- Trump’s flair for media spectacle is legendary—and intentional.
Trump in Context
Trump didn’t invent the cult-of-personality playbook—but he’s following it word-for-word.
Loyalty Tests
From demanding Comey’s loyalty to humiliating his own staff (remember Sean Spicer defending the “largest inauguration crowd ever”?), Trump created a White House where fawning replaced function.
Truth Is a Tool
More than 30,000 documented falsehoods. But the most damaging lies weren’t trivial—they were structural:
Birtherism – The racist conspiracy that launched his political career.
**The “Stolen” 2020 Election** – Sparked an attempted coup.
** COVID Denial** – “It’s just a cough.” “Try bleach.” Nearly killed him.
**The Central Park Five** – He called for the death penalty against five innocent Black boys. Years later, even after their exoneration, he refused to retract his words.
The “Rent-Free” Mind Game
You’ve heard the taunt: “Trump lives rent-free in your head.” But the truth is—he made sure of it. His brand is dominance. Like a true cult leader, he hijacks the attention economy, demanding space in your psyche. Musk’s emergence as a similar figure is no coincidence—they’ve learned the same tricks: omnipresence equals power.
Why It Matters
People living under authoritarian cults aren't inherently different from anyone else. They're human. And humans seek leaders. What separates a healthy society from a cultic one is whether we demand accountability—or trade it away for identity, comfort, or fear.
Trump’s loyalists aren’t just faithful. They’re willing to endure personal humiliation, contradiction, and even legal jeopardy to protect him. That kind of loyalty isn’t earned—it’s engineered. And once it takes hold, it becomes a tool to control not just the inner circle, but entire nations.
As the economy falters, as systems of justice are bent and broken, remember: cults don’t just harm their followers—they endanger everyone else too.