Philosophically, it is about how freedom erodes from within when citizens and leaders willingly trade truth, institutions, and future generations for immediate power, protection, and psychic gratification. AdvertisementPersonality-cult members display "unquestioning loyalty to a strong leader… whom they perceive as infallible and truthful," similar to followers of Perón or Mussolini. AdvertisementShort termism and addiction to power: In a hyper-polarized environment, many Republicans calculate only the next primary, the next 24 hour news cycle. They fear a Trump-backed challenger more than they fear long-term democratic collapse. Mythic time vs. chronological time: For the cult, Trump is not a mortal politician in his eighties; he is a mythic figure.