Wednesday, August 28, 2024

Trump Metanarratives

I intend to deliver a paper about rhizo-narratology and the Donald Trump stories to my favorite academic conference, the Southern Humanities Conference, this coming January, 2025. I've been reading and writing about rhizo thought in general since 2014 and Donald Trump narratives in particular since 2020. I've much more material than I need for one presentation, but I do need to begin organizing the material to find a focus for a 12-minute presentation. I will review my research and lift out topics as I come across them, beginning with an overview of the metanarratives about Donald Trump. I will also publish these gathering posts unclosed, adding to them as I come across more material.

By the way, I am using Gemini and Claude to read through the hundreds of blog posts, articles, and PDFs that I've covered over the past decade. Both of these AI tools read much faster than I do, and they can survey a much wider topography than I can and identify patterns that I might not see at all and certainly won't see by January, 2025.

In his Conversation article "Liz Cheney trounced", Vanderbilt philosophy professor Robert B. Talisse explains Republican Liz Cheney's loss to Harriet Hageman as a clear case of partisanship rather than policy: 'Once we recognize the centrality of partisan identities and how they are rooted in lifestyles rather than public policies, it becomes clear that much conventional thinking about how democracy works needs revision." Whereas we tend to think about policy in rational terms, I believe we think about partisan identities in narrative terms. The stories we believe and tell about our heroes and communities trump (pun intended) the arguments we make about policy. I find several common metanarratives about Donald Trump that are frequently used to frame and explain his actions, motivations, and popularity as well as the behavior of his supporters.


Trump as an Anti-Establishment, Outsider Candidate:
 Several writers have noted how Trump’s initial appeal stemmed from his image as an outsider, a businessman who wasn’t a career politician. He was seen as someone who could shake up the status quo and represent those who felt ignored by the political establishment. This metanarrative resonated with many voters, particularly those who felt left behind by economic changes or disrespected by cultural shifts. In his article in The Atlantic"The Case for Trump Is Getting More Radical Every Year", David French says of this early Trump story, "While Trump was not the normal politician, the reasons I heard [in 2016] for supporting him were (mostly) conventional, and unsurprising. There’s a long history of different American constituencies feeling disregarded and disrespected. There’s a long history of populist movements in American politics."

It is possible that this more secular narrative about Trump was the main story told early on because most media at the time was blind to the more religious stories already starting to emerge about Donald Trump among his religious supporters. I think that most media sources could not recognize, take seriously, and use the more religious stories to explain the rise and popularity of Donald Trump. It seems to me now that the failure of media to engage these stories has undermined and in some ways continues to undermine our ability to understand Trump.


Trump as a Righteous Warrior Battling Evil:
This metanarrative casts Trump as a divinely chosen figure fighting against corrupt and malicious forces trying to destroy America. McKay Coppins notes in his article "The Most Revealing Moment of a Trump Rally" that many prayers at Trump rallies “take Trump’s righteousness for granted” and portray him as a divinely ordained leader. This metanarrative has several prominent features that often branch into slightly different stories of Trump, the righteous warrior:

America’s Covenant with God: Trump's evangelical supporters in particular believe that America has strayed from its covenant with God, leading to the nation's decline. Coppins says:

  • The scripture verse that’s cited most frequently in the prayers [at Trump rallies] comes from 2 Chronicles. “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” … Trump’s supporters attribute America’s fall from grace to a variety of national sins old and new … The premise of all of these prayers is that America’s covenant can be reestablished, and its special place in God’s kingdom restored, if the nation repents and turns back to him. … What’s new is how many Christians now seem convinced that God has anointed a specific leader [Trump] who, like those prophets of old, is prepared to defeat the forces of evil and redeem the country
    They view Trump as a divinely chosen leader, akin to biblical figures like Esther, Solomon, or David, destined to restore America's righteousness and its place in God’s kingdom.
    Trump as God’s Instrument: The sources highlight a shift in perception among Trump's supporters from initially seeing him as an "unlikely vessel" like Cyrus the Great, who served God's purpose despite personal flaws, to believing in his inherent righteousness. This is evident in prayers at Trump rallies, which often assume his goodness and implore God to aid him in his preordained mission. Coppins reports that in recent Trump rallies, "rather than asking God to make Trump an instrument of his will, most of the prayers start from the assumption that he already is. Accordingly, many of them drop any pretense of thy-will-be-done nonpartisanship, and ask explicitly for Trump’s reelection.”
    Spiritual Warfare and Demonization of Opponents: The sources depict a belief system among some Trump supporters that frames the political arena as a battleground for a spiritual war. This narrative casts Trump as a warrior battling demonic forces, particularly targeting figures like Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, who are portrayed as agents of evil. Coppins says, "It’s easy to see the danger in internalizing the concept of politics as spiritual combat. Trump’s rallies become more than mere campaign events—they are staging grounds in a supernatural conflict that pits literal angels against literal demons for the soul of the nation. Marinate enough in these ideas, and the consequences of defeat start to feel existential.”
    Trump's Persecution as Proof of his Righteousness: The sources point out the tendency among Trump's supporters to interpret the numerous accusations and legal challenges against him not as evidence of potential wrongdoing, but as proof of his victimhood. This persecution narrative reinforces their belief that he is a righteous figure opposed by nefarious forces. French writes, "When you understand that people really, truly believe the state of political and spiritual emergency outlined above, then a lot of other cultural phenomena start to make sense. … Why would Republicans immediately rally around Trump after the FBI search? Because their entire story of the past six years teaches them that Trump is persecuted, he’s God’s instrument, and the Democrats (and “deep state”) are thwarting God’s divine plan."
    The “Deep State” and the “Liberal Media” as Enemies: The sources identify the belief in a "deep state" and the demonization of "liberal media" as integral to the narrative of Trump as a righteous warrior. These entities are portrayed as actively working against Trump and his supporters, reinforcing the sense of a cosmic battle against evil. In their article "Conservatives feel blamed", Smith and Jones explain conservative's mistrust of the liberal media: "Many conservatives are deeply skeptical of journalists’ motivations. Our interviewees view mainstream news outlets as part of a group of liberal institutions dedicated to making conservatives into pariahs. The misinformation often at the heart of conservative responses to COVID-19 is a symptom, rather than a cause, of this distrust." French explains the conservative antipathy to the deep state this way: "Here’s the new narrative: The Trump presidency exposed the true evil of the left. They persecuted Trump more than any other president in history. First, there was the Russia hoax, then the impeachment hoax, then they shut down the economy and schools to destroy Trump; they shut down churches to destroy the Church. They burned cities. They hollowed out our police forces. They were tyrants. They forced us to wear masks that didn't work and to take an experimental vaccine that has killed tens of thousands of vulnerable Americans. [Italics in the original]

    These elements combine to create a powerful narrative that resonates deeply with Trump’s most ardent supporters. By framing him as a righteous leader chosen by God to battle evil, this narrative provides a framework for understanding current events, justifies unwavering loyalty, and fuels a sense of urgency and existential stakes in the fight against perceived enemies.


Trump as a Victim of Persecution:
A common metanarrative among both religious and secular Trump supporters is that he is a victim of relentless attacks from the left-wing media and political establishment (French and Taussig and Nadler). This metanarrative portrays him as a persecuted figure, unjustly targeted by his enemies because of his efforts to "save the nation." According to this story, investigations into Trump, such as the Mueller investigation and the January 6th indictment by Jack Smith, are merely hoaxes designed to discredit him. This story is used to explain away any negative information about Trump and to solidify his image as a fighter under constant attack. As Hans A. von Spakovsky says in his editorial for The Heritage Foundation: "The indictment of former President Donald Trump by special counsel Jack Smith—with the full approval of Attorney General Merrick Garland—is an attack on the American political system and fundamental rights protected by the First Amendment to freely discuss, debate, and contest serious election and political issues. It represents the ultimate weaponization of the Justice Department, a transformation started by President Barack Obama’s attorney general, Eric Holder, and completed by Garland, to take out a viable political opponent of Garland’s boss and political patron, President Joe Biden. Nothing more, nothing less."

Like the above metanarrative about Trump as a righteous warrior, this persecution metanarrative is developed through several key themes that can branch into distinct expressions of the story:

  • The "Deep State" and "Liberal Media" as Antagonists: Many Trump supporters believe in a shadowy "deep state" apparatus working to undermine his presidency and a “liberal media” dedicated to portraying him negatively. These entities are presented as inherently opposed to Trump's mission to "make America great again," representing a corrupt establishment resistant to his attempts to restore the nation to its former glory. 
  • Trump's Legal Troubles as Evidence of Persecution: Trump supporters often interpret the various legal challenges and accusations leveled against him not as legitimate concerns but as proof of a coordinated effort to silence and discredit him. This persecution narrative is particularly evident in the reaction to the FBI search of Mar-a-Lago, which was immediately framed by many Republicans as politically motivated and further evidence of the “deep state” working against Trump. As David French points out in his Atlantic article "The Case for Trump": "Why would Republicans immediately rally around Trump after the FBI search? Because their entire story of the past six years teaches them that Trump is persecuted, he’s God’s instrument, and the Democrats (and “deep state”) are thwarting God’s divine plan." David Frum adds that this framing serves to deflect attention from the potential validity of the accusations and strengthens the image of Trump as a victim of his enemies' relentless attacks.
  • The "Big Lie" and the Stolen Election Narrative: Many Trump supporters hold the pervasive belief in the "Big Lie," the false claim that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from Trump. Sarah Longwell reports that "Some 35 percent of Americans—including 68 percent of Republicans—believe the Big Lie, pushed relentlessly by former President Donald Trump and amplified by conservative media, that the 2020 presidential election was stolen." This belief is presented as more than just a political disagreement; it's a core tenet of the persecuted savior narrative. By portraying Trump as the rightful winner of the election, supporters cast him as a victim of a vast conspiracy involving widespread voter fraud, manipulated voting machines, and a coordinated effort to suppress his votes. This stolen election narrative further solidifies the image of Trump as a target of powerful forces seeking to prevent him from achieving his mission to save the nation.
  • Attacks on Trump as Attacks on His Supporters: The sources suggest that some Trump supporters view attacks on him as attacks on themselves and their values. This perception is fueled by the belief that Trump is a true representative of their interests and aspirations, a champion fighting against the same forces that they perceive as threatening their way of life. [11, 12] This shared sense of persecution strengthens their loyalty to Trump and fuels their determination to defend him against his perceived enemies.
By framing Trump as a persecuted figure unjustly targeted for his efforts to "save the nation," these narratives serve several key functions:
  • They solidify his image as a righteous warrior: By portraying him as a victim of shadowy forces and a corrupt establishment, these narratives reinforce the belief that he is a force for good, standing against evil and fighting for the interests of ordinary Americans.
  • They justify unwavering loyalty and support: If Trump is engaged in a battle against evil, then any criticism or opposition to him can be easily dismissed as being part of the problem, further justifying unwavering support among his base.
  • They create a sense of urgency and existential stakes: By framing the political landscape as a battleground for the soul of the nation, these narratives instill a sense of urgency and existential importance in supporting Trump and his mission. This further motivates his supporters to view the fight against his perceived enemies as a fight for their own values and way of life.


Trump as a Symbol of Conservative Grievance and Resentment:
 Much of Trump’s popularity is fueled by a deep sense of grievance and resentment among many conservatives. In their article "Conservatives feel blamed", Doron Taussig and Anthony M. Nadler argue that conservative distrust of mainstream media stems from a deeply held belief among conservatives that the media seeks to blame, shame, and ostracize them and their values. Conservatives see Trump as someone who understands their frustrations and will fight back against those they perceive as their cultural and political enemies.

These narratives, often amplified and reinforced by conservative media outlets, have created a powerful suite of metanarratives around Donald Trump and his presidency, which has, in turn, made it difficult for many of his supporters to accept information that challenges their worldview, such as the outcome of the 2020 election.

BTW, the images were generated by Google's ImageFX in my attempt to capture the emotions of each metanarrative.