When loyalty becomes a cult.

Black-and-white photo of the U.S. Capitol dome and façade under an overcast sky, with blurred crowd silhouettes in the foreground.
The U.S. Capitol under a brooding sky, framed by a blurred crowd—power, loyalty, and public life in one image.

Where I Stand

I’m not calling every Republican a cult member. I’m talking about the die-hard MAGA crowd that defends Trump no matter what. For context, I voted for him in 2016 because I was skeptical of Hillary Clinton—and I regretted it quickly. When the “Access Hollywood” tape surfaced, I knew what it said about how he talks about women, but I still told myself, “Well, it’s better than Hillary.” That was me giving him a pass, and I own that. On Oct. 7–8, 2016, a 2005 hot-mic recording was published in which he boasted about kissing and groping women without consent and pursuing a married woman—that’s the tape I’m talking about (see links in “Further reading”).

The Double Standard I Keep Seeing

Here’s the pattern I run into: Trump says or does something that would be disqualifying for anyone else, and the reaction is, “That’s just how he talks.” Criticism is waved off as hate. Facts get brushed aside. The standard shifts in real time to shield him.

  • When that 2016 tape came out, people I know called it “locker-room talk.” These same folks would torch any other man for it. (Context: the tape showed him bragging about grabbing and kissing women without consent.)
  • About a month after Biden was sworn in—around February—I asked a friend about the 2020 loss. She told me, with absolute confidence in her voice, “He couldn’t lose.” Not “shouldn’t.” Couldn’t. That isn’t normal political support; that’s devotion.
  • He once said he could stand “in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody” and not lose voters. What an arrogant thing to say—even as a “joke.” The fact that some people shrugged it off still amazes me. If Biden or Obama had said that, these same people would’ve lost their minds.
  • The conversation-stoppers—“fake news,” “witch hunt,” “they just hate him”—pop up the second you raise a specific concern. It shuts down evidence before evidence is even considered.

Election Denial and the Evidence Problem

2020 is when the devotion snapped into focus for me. Friends and family told me the election was stolen. I kept asking for real proof—something verifiable. What came back was always hearsay: a clip, a personality, a headline. Meanwhile, court after court—conservative judges included—rejected the claims. Trump’s own attorney general said there was no evidence of widespread fraud that would change the outcome. Federal election-security officials called it the most secure election in American history.

The Georgia Call, In Plain English

I listened to the full call with Georgia’s secretary of state. He pressed them to “find” the exact number of votes he needed. If any other president had done that, my MAGA friends would call it corrupt and an abuse of power. But for Trump, the excuses arrived on schedule.

Why Some People Still Feel Safe With Him

I get the pull. In the very beginning, I wondered if he might be a strong leader—he sounded confident, he had charisma, and he was a sharp speaker. I was never a big Trump supporter, but I can see why that energy made some folks feel protected. Social scientists sometimes call this “charismatic authority,” where loyalty flows to a person because of their supposed extraordinary qualities more than to any rule or institution. When that devotion hardens into a leader-as-savior brand, it edges toward a “cult of personality.” None of that, by itself, excuses anything. My bottom line stays the same: tell the truth, back up claims, accept losses, and put principles over personality.

Immigration: What People Want vs. What He Sells

Most people I talk to want the law enforced without cruelty. They don’t want to terrorize every immigrant. Public opinion is mixed and practical, not “all-or-nothing”: many Americans—including a chunk of Republicans—support some legal pathway under conditions, even if they also want tougher enforcement at the border (see Pew and Gallup trends in “Further reading”).

The Bottom Line

Disagree with me on policy all day—fine. But when a movement demands loyalty to one man, dismisses evidence, and shifts standards so nothing ever sticks, that’s not normal politics. That’s cult-like behavior. I’ve seen it up close, and I won’t pretend it’s something else just to keep the peace at the dinner table.

Sources

Further reading (optional)

Vicki Andrada's avatar

By Vicki Andrada

A Little About Me I was born on February 25, 1972, in Flint, Michigan, at McLaren Hospital. I lived in Michigan until I was almost 40, then moved to Tampa, Florida, where I stayed for seven years. After that, I relocated to Arizona, living with friends in Glendale and then in Phoenix for about eight months. I spent two years total in Arizona before returning to Florida for a little over a year. Eventually, I moved back to Michigan and stayed with my parents for six months. In May of 2022, I moved to Traverse City, Michigan, where I’ve been ever since—and I absolutely love it. I never expected to return to Michigan, but I’m so glad I did. I was born blind and see only light and shadows. My fiancé, Josh, is also blind. We both use guide dogs to navigate independently and safely. My current Leader Dog is Vicki Jo , a four-year-old Golden Retriever/Black Lab mix. She’s my fourth guide dog—my first two were Yellow Labs, and my last two have been Golden/Lab crosses. Josh’s guide dog, Lou, came from the same organization where I got my previous dog—now known as Guide Dogs Inc., formerly Southeastern Guide Dogs. Josh and I live together here in Traverse City, and we both sing in the choir at Mission Hill Church , which was previously known as First Congregational Church. A lot of people still know it by that name. We both really enjoy being part of the choir—it’s something that brings us a lot of joy. I also love to read, write, and listen to music—especially 60s, 70s, and 80s music. Josh and I enjoy listening to music together and watching movies, especially when descriptive video is available. We also like working out at the YMCA a couple of times a week, which has been great for both our physical and mental health. I’m a big fan of Major League Baseball. My favorite team is the Detroit Tigers, followed by the Tampa Bay Rays and the Colorado Rockies. In the NFL, I cheer for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Indianapolis Colts, and San Francisco 49ers—and I still have a soft spot for the Detroit Lions, especially now that they’ve started turning things around. I’m passionate about politics and history. I consider myself a progressive thinker, though I also try to take a balanced, middle-of-the-road approach. I’m a follower of Jesus Christ and a strong believer in respecting people of all faiths. I love learning about different religions, cultures, and belief systems. Writing is one of my biggest passions. I haven’t published anything yet, but I’ve written several books that are still in progress. Writing helps me express myself, explore new ideas, and connect with others through storytelling. Thanks for stopping by and getting to know a little about me.

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