What is it about Trump that has allowed him to acquire so many ardent followers?

[GODZILLA]

I don't get it! Has any sort of American Political leader had this sort of cult-like following before? Obviously, it has happened in other countries. Hitler, Kim Jong Un, and his family and interestingly enough, Putin. To be frank, Trump is a fucking moron. So why is it his followers seem to worship him? I have witnessed this myself via social media among my personal friends. Even so recently, like yesterday a friend of mine posted something talking shit about John McCain. This guy is a Trump supporter. His base often likes to see what they want to see. If you tell them the sky is blue, they will argue that it is green if Trump said it. To a normal, sane human being anyone who supports Trump comes off as a total moron. Again, Trump has demonstrated time and time again that he has very low intelligence. I like Tulsi, but I don't worship her. I can see her flaws, she is not a perfect human being. In fact, I have felt she needs to discuss more her plans for implementing policy instead of just using applause lines.

[Chad32]

I don't know, but he seems to have emboldened the worst side of the republican party. although I want to say it probably started before him. We went from a black president that the republicans hated, to a white xenophobe, and the alt right is lapping it up.

[Alan V]

I don't get it! Has any sort of American Political leader had this sort of cult-like following before? 

I've wondered the same thing myself.  Republicans support for Trump is around 90%, and I just can't understand it.  He's a pathological liar and obviously doesn't know what he is doing.  I guess many Republicans enjoy the political theater, or hate Democrats so much they love to see us in pain.

I would compare Trump to McCarthy or Mussolini.  He's definitely a demagogue who specializes in whipping people up.

[arewethereyet]

Trump has used his position in a way that allows his followers to say what they really mean. He has opened the gates for in-your-face prejudices and biases to be aired loud and proud. It is very cult-like. All the things people weren't saying in 'polite company' are now being screamed from the rooftops because Trump has made it acceptable.

Is there much that anyone you know can say that would be more heinous that the things that spew out Trump's mouth?

He is a cult leader - it baffles me as much that people want to back him as it does that people were willing to swallow the koolaid for Jim Jones. The difference is in numbers. A charismatic leader who appeals to a certain subset of the population that buys the lies. IMO, if Trump is reelected we (US) are really and fully screwed and there will be no fixing it even in our grandchildren's lifetimes. But he won't be beaten out of office by the group that's in the running.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

It's called 'pandering to fear'.

Paraphrase from 'The American President':  He is not interested in solving your problems.  He is interested in making you afraid of it and telling you who's to blame for it.  You take a bunch of middle aged, middle class, middle income voters who remember an easier time and you talk to them about family and American values.  That is how you win elections.

Boru

[Figbash]

It's called 'pandering to fear'.

Paraphrase from 'The American President':  He is not interested in solving your problems.  He is interested in making you afraid of it and telling you who's to blame for it.  You take a bunch of middle aged, middle class, middle income votes who remember an easier time and you talk to them about family and American values.  That is how you win elections.

Boru

This. It's SUPER easy to gain (and keep) followers based on the shared hatred of the "other" (fill in the blank - liberals, women, gays, Mexicans, Muslims)

[Fireball]

It's called 'pandering to fear'.

Paraphrase from 'The American President':  He is not interested in solving your problems.  He is interested in making you afraid of it and telling you who's to blame for it.  You take a bunch of middle aged, middle class, middle income voters who remember an easier time and you talk to them about family and American values.  That is how you win elections.

Boru

I wish I had some easier time in my past! These people are suckers, methinks.

[Little lunch]

A lot of people are sick of the left.
They know that both sides lie through their teeth constantly, but the way that Trump does it, they like it better.
Also, I think voting for Trump was a gamble for many. They wanted change.
I think it's become very hard for the average person to work out what the fuck either side is doing.
There's so much information and misinformation that the normal working person doesn't have the time to keep up with it all.
It seems to me that a lot of people pick a side early and stay on that side forever.
If people are swapping over to the right, then maybe the left needs to pick up it's game rather than blaming their losses on the other side's stupidity.

[Sal]

I have no definitive idea. Maybe its populist nationalistic blinders people have acquired through cynicism.

I expect, if there's no drastic change before next U.S. election, that Trump will win again in 2020. He's riding some sort of populist nationalistic wave that I also see here in Europe, just from the EU elections where some right-leaning politicians have won in their countries.

Blaming the other side of the political spectrum for all ills without some recourse is not gonna fare well in your own favor. Only way to defeat an idea is to present a better idea.

[The Grand Nudger]

@  The OPQ

Nothing.  There's nothing about Trump that got him anything.  The yellow press maintains the avatar the russians elected as he burns off of what remains of his fathers money.