CNN —
Donald Trump, the former president, is a phenomenon in culture. His triumph this week over well-funded and well-known rivals in the Iowa caucuses was evidence of it. He is more than just a politician to his hordes of ardent fans. He serves as a catalyst for identity formation, much way a sports team or rock group does for families and communities.
Voters’ allegiance to Trump has not been swayed by Republican opponents, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley. In fact, the entire “anti-Trump” faction inside the party has not demonstrated that it is capable of making a difference, ranging from conservatives seeking to unseat him to a small group of moderates seeking to eliminate all he represents. Trump continues to emerge victorious.
The ardent devotion that Trump has from the base is a result of numerous factors. Evangelical, working-class, and rural supporters make up his base, and they are drawn to many of the principles he has championed, such as his nativism and doubts about US relationships abroad. Even Republicans who are not particularly fond of his political approach support several of his presidential initiatives, like deregulation, tariffs on China, and corporate tax cuts.
And there’s the calculation that is just pragmatic. Despite his poor performance in 2020 and his negative influence in 2022, there is a belief that Trump has the best chance of winning back the White House in November’s election in a party that has grown increasingly politicized in recent years. (Never mind that surveys indicate that Haley would easily defeat Biden in a runoff against Trump, while the president and the party are almost tied).
Trump’s fans have been successfully persuaded to believe that the four indictments against the former president are an act of persecution, so they can understand the argument. According to an entrance poll conducted in Iowa, many Republican voters don’t think Joe Biden won the 2020 race, and many of them could still support Trump even if he is found guilty of a crime.
But it’s also critical to acknowledge that, for sizable segments of the Republican Party, Trump has become a cultural phenomenon in order to fully comprehend him. He has been successful in portraying his position in politics as comparable to that of a well-known sports team, singer, or social media personality.
His “base” backs him wholeheartedly and without any reservations. They have an uncommon degree of fervor in which they relate to him on a really intimate level. Any blow to him is a blow to them.
In contrast to most other presidents, Trump has jumped right into salesmanship. Unafraid to break with convention and show off his cultural credentials, Trump has actively sought to position himself as a product of culture rather than a typical politician, understanding that this would create much stronger bonds.
Others are promoting to his followers as well. Trump supporters may purchase silvery Trump Balls ($125 for the larger pair) or bumper stickers featuring the former president pissing on Putin in Boones Mill, Virginia, according to CNN.
Fans of Trump are catered to by dozens of other independent retailers around the country. The MAGA hat wearer is comparable to a New England Patriots supporter waving their team attire.
Undoubtedly, Trump is not the first president to enjoy significant cultural currency with voters outside of conventional political allegiances. Early in the 20th century, stuffed toy bears associated with President Theodore Roosevelt gained popularity.
Americans bought pictures of President Franklin D. Roosevelt to display in their homes during the 1930s, while saloon owners were known for hanging his paintings above their bars. In the 1980s, there were toys depicting President Ronald Reagan, and during President Barack Obama’s two years, Shepard Fairey’s “Hope” poster from his 2008 campaign became a symbol on t-shirts, college dorms, and other items. Family members have also joined in on the fun: Billy, the brother of President Jimmy Carter, peddled “Billy Beer” while he was in office.
Furthermore, some voters saw former presidents like John F. Kennedy as more than just elected officials. Kennedy’s 1963 assassination was particularly devastating because he was seen by many Americans as a symbol of a new era and larger-than-life.
However, no president has spent as much time positioning himself as a cultural phenomenon as President Trump. Trump’s rallies are renowned for being like rock concerts, with people decked out in MAGA attire, flaunting as many products as they can afford, and suspensefully waiting to hear their favorite lines. It has paid off for the former reality TV star to successfully market himself as a cultural commodity.
