Deliberate Division?

has it gone as planned?

The news lately has been full of speculation: is the MAGA-sphere showing cracks? Has the White House and DoJ’s withholding of the Epstein files, or the total redaction of sections of them, alienated some of the cult? Or were the murders of Renee Good and Alex Pretti so vicious and wanton that even some of the orange supporters can’t justify them? The 70% of the country that hasn’t been brainwashed by the Felon-in-Chief and his lackeys is looking for good news on that front, and many are cautiously optimistic. I’m agnostic, pending more solid indications, such as a willingness from the majority of Republican congresscritters to say, “NO” to their party leader on the things he wants most. If that would happen, it would mean they’re looking out for and listening to their constituents and refusing to vote for yet more damaging policies. Thus far, there’s been a little token resistance, but by and large, the GOP remains solidly behind Dear Leader.

I’ve often wondered, though, if Rump himself envisioned it this way. Obviously, he meant to divide the country along the lines of white people and “others.” From the beginning, he accused Mexicans, Latin Americans, and South Americans of being criminals, rapists, the worst of the worst. He set out to gather white Christians as his support group. But in his narcissism, did he assume that most of the white population of the country would join him, or did he clearly realize that only a minority subset would approve of his policies? Amazingly enough, large numbers of Hispanic people did vote for him, which indicates a significant level of cognitive dissonance; they assumed he was attacking people of color who weren’t them. Was he prepared for the vehement rejection by large swaths of the pasty-skinned citizenry, though? He talks about the “radical Left,” but he apparently thinks they're outliers.

He talks and acts as if he absolutely believes that most of the country is with him. He brags about “landslides” in both elections, despite the fact that he lost the popular vote in 2016 and received fewer votes in 2024 than Harris and other candidates combined. His personality disorder compels him to always think the best of himself, so he tells himself stories that shore up his delusions. At this point, he’s likely far enough into his own world that no one could convince him that most of the country hates him. Was that true in 2015?

Did he start out with the goal of dividing voters, or did he truly think everyone would stand behind and share his bigotry? Did he expect to be able to rule by fiat, uncontested, because only a negligible few dissidents didn’t think he was a stable genius? Is his non-stop rage-baby mindset a result of unexpected opposition from much of the country?

I think the answer to the last question is, “yes.” I think he told himself that he would be worshipped by at least most white people, the only ones who count, in his book. He took it as a given that he’d automatically be elevated to a throne created just for him. I don’t think he consciously planned to create a schism. He made some very wrong assumptions due to his narcissism, and none of his sycophants tried to explain anything to him, even back in his first term. No one wanted to lose his or her job. Now, explanations would not only be fatal to careers, they’d be futile. He wouldn’t accept for a nanosecond that any negative outcomes are due to his actions or policies. He hates those who oppose him with a bone-deep animosity. We’ve seen that in L.A., Chicago, and especially Minneapolis. He can’t escape the knowledge that many people don’t support him, and I think that fact came as an initial shock, so revenge for not being universally loved is now the basis for much of his daily activity, when he isn’t grifting.

As various policies receive pushback, and some goals are—at least temporarily—out of reach, Rump is having to fight harder and harder to maintain his bubble of invincibility. The real world is closing in, which makes him more and more desperate to cling to his delusions. The country IS divided, with a strong majority against him, and it’s becoming more difficult to ignore that. He didn’t foresee that, and in his flailing to hold onto the core of himself, he will become more and more dangerous. He will never forgive the country for not revering and adoring him wholeheartedly, and in his fury, I think burning it all down will become his final purpose.