Since his entrance into the political sphere, Donald Trump has captivated a significant portion of the American public with a quasi-mythic allure. Once simply a celebrity businessman, Trump has transformed into a figure of near-divine significance for his staunch supporters. He is not simply a political leader but a saviour who stands against what his followers perceive as rampant corruption within judicial institutions, the political process and the government itself.  

A Singular Political Figure

Trump has a record that would typically tarnish any political figure. He’s been found liable for sexual assault in civil court, amassed a historic number of felony counts (34), and survived two impeachments. Despite this trail of both criminal activity and misbehavior, support from Trump’s followers appears solid. In fact, every new accusation and conviction seems to reinforce his image as a victim of persecution. This narrative casts Trump as a warrior plagued by enemies, framing his battle as not solely political, but also cosmological. German sociologist Max Weber’s theory of charismatic authority provides insight into how Trump’s followers come to view him as encompassing sacred powers, and therefore above the law. Simultaneously, Dr. Elizabeth Castelli’s discussion of the “Christian Persecution Complex” reveals how Trump’s victimization  enhances his appeal, transforming him into a quasi-religious symbol for a faction of Americans who see him as a warrior, fighting a system which compromises their values. Trump’s ability to embody a form of charismatic authority resonates deeply with his followers, exploiting their cultural and religious anxieties, and proving that his influence moves beyond the political to a deeper spiritual level.  

Charismatic, Sanctified and Authoritarian

Max Weber’s concept of charismatic authority enables one to understand Donald Trump’s transformation into a near-sacred figure within American political culture. According to Weber, charisma is “a certain quality of an individual personality by virtue of which he is set apart from ordinary men and treated as endowed with supernatural, superhuman, or at least specifically exceptional powers.” As Trump’s supporters interpret his words as embodying a deeper, almost revolutionary mission, Weber’s qualification seems rather accurate. This charisma, as Weber discusses, is exemplified by a leader’s ability to captivate people with direct and unfiltered communication. This is evident in Trump’s approach which intentionally disrupts political norms in the name of authenticity, such as his frequent use of Twitter over traditional media outlets. Trump’s tweets, which are often controversial and blunt, resonate with supporters who perceive them as unfiltered truths within a world plagued by misinformation.  

Furthermore, this charismatic authority is contingent upon a personal attachment that followers develop, creating “the emotional bond of loyalty” with Trump.  In Economy and Society, Weber argues that such loyalty sanctifies the leader’s cause, and therefore the leaders are not bound by the rules which apply to other “ordinary” people. This can explain why many of Trump’s followers do not seem bothered by his felony convictions, civil lawsuits, and impeachments. Rather than viewing him as a politician, they perceive him as the leader of a larger-than-life movement, and as a figure of divine importance.

In Persecution Complex: Identity Politics and the “War on Christians, Elizabeth Castelli discusses the “Christian Persecution Complex”: the belief that Christian values and Christians themselves are being oppressed and targeted by the Western world. Throughout his political career, Trump has continuously claimed that he is experiencing political persecution, with his supporters echoing this sentiment. This, coupled with the fact that Trump has repeatedly vowed to protect Christians against the proposed evil of the other side, enables him to exploit Christian fears and play into the Christian Persecution Complex. Last month, during an event in North Carolina titled 11th-Hour Faith Leader’s Meeting, various conservative pastors spoke before Trump. One of these pastors happened to be Guillermo Maldonado, declaring that “we’re now in spiritual warfare.” In addition, Elizabeth Castelli further argues, that the Christian Persecution Complex employs a rthetoric of religious victimization to suppress political discourse and criticism. The collective belief in oppression cultivates a widespread identity among Trump’s followers, making his narrative of persecution not solely a personal struggle but the opportunity for a larger movement against a secular, liberal establishment.This framing strengthens not only his status as a chosen leader, but also bolsters his policies, such as the reversal of Roe v. Wade, by positioning them as essential to defending Christian values. Trump’s personal persecution complex combined with the Christian Persecution Complex removes him from ordinary political battle and reinforces his image as a savior figure, and in the process he is sanctified.  

A Mythic Attraction

Following his first assassination attempt, Trump, along with some supporters, suggested that a “divine intervention” might have saved his life. This perception is common among Trump supporters, binding them to a collective vision of Trump as not merely a politician, but a chosen figure on a sacred mission. While there are many theories to explain this quasi-religious and psychological unification of Trump’s followers, the frameworks provided by Weber’s theory of charismatic authority and Castelli’s Christian Persecution Complex enable meaningful dialogue to explain this phenomenon. His ability to transcend conventional politics and embody a near-sacred cause maintains Trump’s influence, suggesting his power will endure as long as his followers view him as a figure destined to fulfill a divine role who is protecting their moral values. Ultimately, Donald Trump’s political legacy depends on his ability to exploit the religious and cultural fears of his supporters, combining a somewhat mythic attraction with the promise of spiritual redemption.

Edited by Éva Leblanc

The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and they do not reflect the position of the McGill Journal of Political Science or the Political Science Students’ Association.

Featured image by Shaleah Craighead through Wikimedia Commons