Trumpism

Trumpism

Trumpism is the political ideology connected to Donald Trump, the 45th and 47th president of the United States, and his supporters. It is linked with the Make America Great Again movement. This ideology includes ideas like right-wing populism, national conservatism, and Christian nationalism.

People who follow Trumpism often believe the president should have more power than normal laws allow. Scholars have compared this way of thinking to far-right movements in other countries. Trump's supporters grew to become a large group within the Republican Party. Because of this, some conservatives who did not agree with Trump started the Never Trump movement.

Background and context

Some experts think that support for Trumpism grew because many people felt left out as society changed. This idea is part of a bigger wave of strong opinions from people who want more power, which also appeared in events like Brexit and Trump's 2016 election.

Scholars say that changes like globalization and the loss of factory jobs have caused problems for some places and people. These changes made life harder for some towns and cities that used to have many jobs in factories. Some experts also say that the way society has changed—like gender equality, urban growth, immigration, and new technologies—has caused some people to react strongly.

One writer, Eric Kaufmann, talks about how some people in Western countries feel that their group’s identity is changing too fast. His book Whiteshift has been discussed a lot, with some people agreeing and others disagreeing about its ideas.

Themes

Trumpism started during Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. It is a way of thinking that focuses on strong national ideas to solve problems in politics, money, and society. It is often called right-wing populist because it supports ideas like immigration restrictionism, trade protectionism, and isolationism.

Trump has been described as someone who speaks in strong, direct ways. Some people believe that Trump’s way of talking helps connect with people who feel left out by the government and big political systems. There is also a movement called the Never Trump movement among some conservative leaders who oppose his ideas.

Trumpism has been described as having strong ideas about leadership, where the president has wide powers. Some scholars worry this could threaten how the United States government works.

Trumpism also connects with ideas about traditional roles for men and women, and many supporters are strong believers in Christian values.

Methods of persuasion

Sociologist Arlie Hochschild says that Donald Trump’s speeches focus on strength, confidence, and national pride. His words create strong emotional ties with his supporters. She calls Trump an “emotions candidate,” meaning he connects with people through feelings, not just ideas.

Trump often speaks in strong, clear statements and warnings. This style makes his messages more memorable and powerful for his audience.

One pattern in Trump’s speeches is to make people worried about problems first. He then talks about the world as two groups: “us” (the good people) and “them” (the outsiders causing trouble). This helps his supporters feel united and believe he can fix problems and make the country great again.

At Trump’s rallies, the events are planned to be exciting and full of energy. The staging, music, and crowd all work together to make supporters feel united. Scholars say this is like an entertainment show, turning worries into excitement.

Trump often repeats strong messages to keep media attention on him. This can sometimes distract from other important issues. His speeches include emotional appeals and dramatic claims, which keep his supporters engaged.

Trump has built his public image like a superhero—someone who can solve big problems. This makes him seem like a special leader who can help ordinary people.

Researchers say Trump’s success comes from understanding the strong emotions many people feel about changes in America. His messages often tap into feelings of fear, anger, or hope.

Trump uses media—like television, social media, and news outlets—to connect with people. He often creates drama and controversy, which keeps him in the spotlight. Some scholars say today’s media focuses more on entertainment than on serious facts, and Trump’s style fits this well.

Many of Trump’s supporters trust the news sources they prefer because of the emotional bond they share with those sources. This emotional connection can make facts less important than feeling understood and supported.

Trump has also been known for making many statements that are not true. Fact-checkers have counted thousands of false or misleading claims he has made over time. Some experts argue that Trump’s way of speaking isn’t about lying in the traditional sense but about creating a story that persuades people, even if it isn’t based in facts.

Social psychology

Social psychology studies how people who support Donald Trump think and feel similarly. Some researchers, like Bob Altemeyer, Thomas F. Pettigrew, and Karen Stenner, say that Trump’s supporters often prefer systems that help their own group.

Altemeyer and John Dean explain how Trump’s followers stay united even with different beliefs. This happens because each person sees their own group, like culture, religion, nationalism, or race, as very important.

Researchers found two main ideas that help predict support for such movements. These are right-wing authoritarian measures and social dominance orientation measures. A 2019 study showed that Trump’s supporters often like strong leadership and feel strongly about social dominance.

Some compare Trump’s leadership to the behavior of dominant animals, like alpha male chimpanzees. This shows how his strong actions can make his supporters feel powerful too.

Researchers also note that some Trump followers share a strong sense of unity, like a group with a common identity. This can make them feel together against outside threats. Some say this feeling makes followers very loyal to Trump.

Cult of personality

Trump’s support has been described as similar to a cult of personality. He showed himself as a businessman and leader, not a regular politician. His messages often talked about fighting imagined enemies and protecting America. This style helped him keep strong support, even after events that might have changed other politicians’ support.

Some researchers say his followers show very strong loyalty and admiration, almost like a cult. They compare this to how people follow leaders in other places. Many observers and researchers have noticed this strong loyalty.

Relationship with media

See also: Donald Trump's conflict with the media and Media coverage of Donald Trump

Some thinkers think Trump's political ideas grew from how media shows politics. They say media often turns real events into stories that are easy to watch, mixing truth with some made-up parts. This can make people see politics in very simple, black-and-white ways.

Trump used social media very well. His messages were often short and quick, and sometimes not very polite. This helped him connect with many supporters, even if it sometimes shared untrue things or made people angry with each other. Some worry this kind of talking can split people apart and make it hard to know what to believe online.

Similar movements, politicians and personalities

See also: List of Donald Trump 2024 presidential campaign political endorsements and List of Donald Trump 2024 presidential campaign non-political endorsements

Historical background in the United States

The ideas behind Trumpism in the United States have been around for a long time. Some experts say it began during the time of Andrew Jackson. People liked Jackson because he stood up for what he believed in, even if it meant going against important rules or leaders.

Jackson did not follow a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, which showed strong feelings about being independent. Some say this is part of what Trumpism means today.

Other people think Trumpism is also like older groups that did not like immigrants or big changes in society. Before World War II, there were groups like the America First Committee, and after the war, some in the Republican Party had similar ideas. By the 1990s, these ideas became known as the paleoconservative movement, which is now often called Trumpism.

Parallels with fascism and trend towards illiberal democracy

Main article: Donald Trump and fascism

Further information: Democratic backsliding in the United States

Some people have compared Trumpism to very strong leadership styles from history. Others see it as a change in how democracy works. There are different opinions about how much Trumpism is like these older styles of leadership.

Some say Trumpism has features similar to ways leaders acted in the past, but others think it is different because it fits the United States today. Writers and historians have different views on this.

Principal scholars

Laura K. Field wrote a book in 2025 about the people who support Trump's ideas. She listed many writers, teachers, and leaders who share similar beliefs. Some of these people are still active, while others have passed away.

The list includes:

• Sohrab Ahmari
• Costin Alamariu
• Michael Anton
• Larry P. Arnn
• Steve Bannon
• Darren Beattie
• Allan Bloom (died 1992)
• Tucker Carlson
• Charles Cornish-Dale
• Chris Demouth
• Patrick Deneen
• Ron Desantis
• John C. Eastman
• Samuel T. Francis (died 2005)
• Robert P. George
• Paul Gottfried
• Josh Hammer
• Yoram Hazony
• Harry V. Jaffa (died 2015)
• Leo Strauss (died 1973)

Rush Limbaugh

Some say Trump learned from Rush Limbaugh, a famous radio host. Both used strong words and made many people very loyal to them. They talked about political issues in a very direct way.

Limbaugh got a special award from Trump in 2020. He helped change how many people thought about politics on TV and radio.

Future impact

Writers have said that Trumpism might continue even after Trump is no longer a leader. They compare it to other movements in different countries that stayed strong even after their main leaders left.

In 2024, a leader of a big think tank said his group wanted to help keep Trumpism going. A writer from a big newspaper said Trump has had a very big effect on the United States, like a few other presidents in history.

Policies

Economic policy

Further information: Economic policy of the first Trump administration and Economic policy of the second Trump administration

Trumpism focuses on creating jobs and helping businesses invest more in the United States. Trump took a strong stance on trade, which caused some disagreements with other countries. He gained support by talking about national pride and criticizing trade rules.

Foreign policy

Further information: Foreign policy of the first Trump administration, Foreign policy of the second Trump administration, and American expansionism under Donald Trump

Trump's foreign policy was about "America First." This meant focusing on what was best for the United States and sometimes acting alone instead of working closely with other nations. He was less supportive of traditional allies and more understanding of leaders who had strong control. Trump promised to involve the U.S. less in foreign conflicts but also planned stricter rules for some countries.

Religious policy

Trump talked about Christian beliefs in his 2024 campaign, saying he wanted to protect religious freedom. He expressed concern about unfair treatment of Christians and took steps to address it through government actions.

Election subversion

See also: Election subversion § United States

Beyond the United States

Further information: Neo-nationalism

Argentina

Javier Milei, an Argentinian Austrian economist who was elected in 2023 as president of Argentina, is sometimes compared to Donald Trump. Many say they are different, describing Milei’s views as mostly libertarian, such as rejecting protectionism and supporting free trade.

Australia

Trumpism is represented in Australia by the political party Trumpet of Patriots, founded in 2021. The party has pledged to “put Australians first and make Australia great again”. It focuses on “gender, changing the immigration policy, bringing down the cost of living and free speech.”

Brazil

See also: Bolsonarism

In Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, sometimes called the “Brazilian Donald Trump”, sees Trump as a role model. Like Trump, Bolsonaro finds support among evangelicals for his views on culture war issues. Along with allies he publicly questioned Joe Biden’s vote tally after the 2020 United States presidential election.

Canada

See also: Republican Party of Alberta

Trumpism exists as a political idea in Canada. Law professor Allan Rock, Canada’s former attorney general and ambassador to the U.N., said Trump had “given expression to an underlying frustration and anger, that arises from economic inequality, from the implications from globalisation.”

According to an October 2020 poll of Canadian voters, the number of “pro-Trump conservatives” was growing in Canada. Maclean’s said this was influencing Canadian political campaigns. Erin O'Toole, the leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, used the slogan—“Take Back Canada”—in a video, stating “[j]oin our fight, let’s take back Canada.” When asked if his “Canada First” policy was different from Trump’s “America First” policy, O'Toole said, “No, it was not.” O'Toole criticized what he considered to be Trumpism after one of Liberal Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland’s tweets was compared to Trump’s flagged tweets, before Twitter’s purchase by Elon Musk. Writing for The Hill in 2021, Markik Von Rennenkampff stated that there are “striking differences” between the Conservative Party under Erin O'Toole and the Republican Party under Trump, notably O'Toole supporting access to abortion and his support for Canada’s single-payer health care system.

Following the 2022 Conservative Party leadership election, some journalists have compared Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre to American Republicans such as Donald Trump and Ted Cruz; however many journalists have dismissed these comparisons due to Poilievre’s support for abortion rights, immigration, and same-sex marriage.

During the 2025 Canadian federal election, Liberal Party of Canada workers created Trump-style “Stop The Steal” buttons and were caught placing them at a Canada Strong and Free Network conference which was supporting the Conservative Party of Canada.

Europe

Further information: Radical right (Europe)

Trumpism has also been said to be growing in Europe. Political parties such as the Finns Party, France's National Rally and Spain's far-right Vox party have been described as following Trump’s style. Trump's former advisor Steve Bannon called Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán “Trump before Trump”. Isabel Díaz Ayuso, member of the Spanish People's Party and president of the Community of Madrid, has also been labeled with Trumpism. George Simion, the founder of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians party and previous candidate in the 2025 Romanian presidential election is commonly called the “Romanian Trump” due to his political style and ideas being very similar to those of Donald Trump. A member of the AUR Alliance is the “Republican Party of Romania” which is heavily inspired by Trump. A Belgian political party named “TRUMP” in a backronym referencing Trump was founded in November 2025. Likewise in the June 2023 Greek parliamentary election, a party called “Republican Party of Greece – T.R.A.M.P.” participated.

India

Main article: Hindutva

See also: Trads (Hindutva)

At the February 2025 meeting between Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, and Donald Trump, the former stated:

Borrowing an expression from America, our vision for a developed India is to make India great again, or MIGA ... When America and India work together, that is, when it's MAGA plus MIGA, it becomes a mega partnership for prosperity. ... And it is this mega spirit that gives new scale and scope to our objectives.

Iran

Main article: Restart (group)

Donald Trump and his policy towards Iran have been praised by the Iranian opposition group 'Restart', led by Mohammad Hosseini, which also supports American military action against Iran and offered to fight alongside Americans to change the Iranian government. The group has adopted the slogan “Make Iran Great Again”.

Israel

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s political views or actions are often compared to Trump's by political analysts. Critics and scholars have pointed to surprising similarities between the two leaders, including populist rhetoric, strategic use of social media to avoid traditional media, and repeated criticism of the judiciary and the elite.

Japan

Further information: Japanese nationalism

In Japan, in a speech to Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers in Tokyo on March 8, 2019, Steve Bannon said that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was “Trump before Trump” and “a great hero to the grassroots, the populist, and the nationalist movement throughout the world.” Shinzo Abe was described as a “right-wing nationalist” or “ultra-nationalist”, but whether he was a “populist” is debated.

__ is the term used to refer to netizens who express far-right nationalistic views on Japanese social media, and also in English to those who are skilled in these languages. Netto-uyoku are typically very supportive not only of Japanese nationalists but also of Donald Trump, and oppose liberal politics.

Nigeria

According to The Guardian and The Washington Post, there is a strong support for Trump in Nigeria. Donald Trump’s comments on the ethno-religious conflicts between Christians and the predominantly Muslim Fulani tribe has increased his popularity among Christians in Nigeria. Donald Trump is praised by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a group seeking independence for Biafra from Nigeria. IPOB has claimed that he “supports the right of people to decide their own future” and praised him for “addressing the ongoing violence against Christians in Nigeria, especially Biafran Christians”.

After Trump’s victory in the 2016 presidential election, IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu wrote a letter to Trump stating he had a “historic and moral duty … to help free oppressed nations in Africa”.

According to a 2020 poll from Pew Research, 58% of Nigerians had favorable views of Donald Trump, the fourth highest percentage globally.

Philippines

See also: Dutertism

Sheila S. Coronel has argued that the political strategies of Ferdinand Marcos, who was president of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986, and Rodrigo Duterte, who held the same position from 2016 to 2022, share certain features with Trumpism, including ignoring facts, spreading fear, and a “loud, bold, very masculine” style;

Russia

Further information: Putinism

Aleksandr Dugin, a Russian far-right political thinker has described the political style of the current Russian President Vladimir Putin as similar to Donald Trump due to their criticism of global systems and elites in promoting nationalism and traditional values

South Korea

The politics of Yoon Suk Yeol, the former president of South Korea, has been called “Trumpist” for its right-wing popular ideas.

Public opinion

Main articles: Opinion polling on the second Trump presidency and United States presidential approval rating

People have shared their thoughts about Donald Trump's time as president. Not many liked his work two months after he was elected, and even fewer liked it after three months. By the end of his second year in office, his approval rating was very low, according to surveys by Gallup.