Trumpism

Trumpism is the political ideology connected to Donald Trump, the 45th and 47th president of the United States, and his supporters. It is closely linked with the Make America Great Again movement. This ideology includes ideas like right-wing populism, national conservatism, and Christian nationalism. It also shows some authoritarian and illiberal beliefs, meaning it sometimes supports strong leadership over strict rules.

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 and national-populist movements in other countries from the mid to late 2010s. Trump's supporters grew to become the largest group within the Republican Party during the late 2010s and early 2020s. Because of this, some conservatives who did not agree with Trump started the Never Trump movement, hoping to return the Republican Party to more traditional values.

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. Some people argue that Trumpism does not really have a clear set of beliefs.

Trump has been described as someone who speaks in strong, direct ways and often criticizes different groups of people. Experts notice that support for Trump is often linked to feelings about racial and ethnic groups. His speeches include anti-immigrant, xenophobic, and nativist views. Other ideas linked to Trumpism include conspiracist, isolationist, Christian nationalist, evangelical Christian, protectionist, anti-feminist, and anti-LGBTQ beliefs.

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, powerful ideas about leadership, where the president has very wide powers. Some scholars worry this could threaten how the United States government works. There are concerns about how much power a president should have and the balance between different parts of the government.

Trumpism also connects with ideas about traditional roles for men and women, and many supporters are strong believers in Christian values. Some see Trump as chosen to lead for a special purpose.

Methods of persuasion

Sociologist Arlie Hochschild writes that Donald Trump’s speeches—which focus on strength, confidence, national pride, and personal encouragement—inspire deep emotional connections with his supporters. She describes Trump as an “emotions candidate,” meaning he connects with voters on a feeling level rather than just through ideas or policies.

Trump’s way of speaking often uses strong, absolute statements and warnings about threats. This style creates a sense of urgency and drama, making his messages more memorable and powerful for his audience.

One common pattern in Trump’s approach is to first make people feel worried or upset about current problems. He then describes the world as divided into two groups: “us” (the good, loyal people) and “them” (the outsiders or enemies causing trouble). By doing this, he builds a sense of unity among his supporters and makes them feel that he alone can fix these problems and restore the country’s greatness. This pattern helps create strong loyalty and excitement at his rallies.

At Trump’s rallies, the events are carefully planned to create a big, energetic show. The staging, music, and crowd energy all work together to make supporters feel excited and united. Scholars compare this to entertainment shows, noting how the performance turns worries into anger aimed at specific targets, creating a powerful emotional experience for the audience.

Trump often uses strong, repeated messages to keep media attention focused on him. This can sometimes distract from other important issues, like changes in laws or policies. His way of speaking includes many emotional appeals, personal attacks, and dramatic claims, which help keep his supporters engaged and loyal.

Trump has also built his public image like a superhero—someone extraordinary who can solve big problems. This branding makes him seem like a special leader who can take unusual actions to help ordinary people.

Researchers note that Trump’s success comes partly from understanding and connecting with the strong emotions many people feel about changes in America. His messages often tap into feelings of fear, anger, or hope, making them more powerful for his audience.

Trump’s use of media—like television, social media, and news outlets—plays a big role in how he connects with people. He often creates drama and controversy, which keeps him in the spotlight. Some scholars say that today’s media focuses more on entertainment and personality than on serious facts, and Trump’s style fits perfectly into this world.

Studies show that many of Trump’s supporters trust the news sources they prefer because of the emotional bond they share with those sources. For example, some viewers see news personalities like family members—reliable, familiar, and comforting. 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. This approach can make his supporters feel that he is the only one telling the “real” truth, especially when they feel distrustful of traditional sources of information.

Social psychology

Social psychology research looks at how the thoughts and feelings of people who support Donald Trump and his movement are similar to each other. Some researchers, like Bob Altemeyer, Thomas F. Pettigrew, and Karen Stenner, say that followers of Trump often prefer social orders that favor their own group.

Altemeyer and John Dean wrote about how Trump’s followers can stay united even though they have different beliefs. This happens because each person can think of their own group as the important one, whether it is about culture, religion, nationalism, or race.

Researchers have found that two main ideas help predict who supports such movements. These are right-wing authoritarian measures and social dominance orientation measures. A study in 2019 showed that people who support Trump often have strong feelings of social dominance and a liking for strong leadership.

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

Researchers also talk about how some followers of Trump share a strong sense of being together, almost like a group with a shared identity. This can make them feel united against outside threats. Some say this feeling can be very strong, making followers very loyal to Trump.

Cult of personality

Trump’s support has been described as similar to a cult of personality. He presented himself as a businessman and leader, not a traditional politician. His messages often focused on fighting imagined enemies and saving America. This style helped him keep strong support even after controversies that might have affected other politicians.

Some researchers say his followers show traits of loyalty and admiration that are very strong, almost like a cult. They compare this to how some people strongly follow leaders in other places. This strong loyalty has been noted by many observers and researchers.

Relationship with media

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

Some thinkers believe that Trump's political ideas grew from how media shows and sells politics. They say media often turns real events into entertaining stories, mixing truth with fiction to attract viewers. This can make people think in simple, divided ways about politics.

Trump used social media very effectively. His messages were often simple, quick, and sometimes rude, which worked well on platforms like Twitter. This style helped him connect with many supporters, even if it sometimes spread untrue information or created anger among different groups. Some worry this kind of communication can divide people and make it hard to trust what they hear 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 roots of Trumpism in the United States go back a long way. Some scholars say it started during the time of Andrew Jackson. Jackson's supporters liked him because he stood up for what they believed in, even if it meant going against important rules or leaders.

Jackson did not follow a decision made by the U.S. Supreme Court and made a big change that affected the Cherokee people. This showed strong feelings about being independent and powerful, which some say is part of what Trumpism is about today.

Other people think Trumpism is also like older groups that did not like immigrants or 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 strict and powerful leadership styles from history. Others see it as a move away from normal democratic ways of doing things. There are debates about how much Trumpism is like these older, strict styles of leadership.

Some say Trumpism has features that are 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 help 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 many political issues in a way that was very direct and sometimes made fun of others.

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 new jobs and encouraging businesses to invest more in the United States. Trump took a strong stance on trade, leading to tensions with other countries through tariffs. He gained support by emphasizing national pride and criticizing global trade practices.

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 centered around the idea of "America First," focusing on national interests and preferring to act alone rather than working closely with other nations. He was less supportive of traditional allies and more sympathetic to leaders who ruled with strong control. Trump promised to reduce U.S. involvement in foreign conflicts while also imposing stricter measures on certain countries.

Religious policy

Trump included themes related to Christian beliefs in his 2024 presidential campaign, speaking about protecting religious freedom. He expressed concern about what he saw as 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, has sometimes been compared to Donald Trump. Many say the two are different, however, 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.” Rock stated that the “behaviour” associated with Trumpism encouraged racists and white supremacists, leading to more of these groups and hate crimes in Canada.

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. Rennenkampff also described Canadian Conservatives as “far more closely aligned with Democrats than Republicans”.

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. In 2024, Zack Beauchamp of Vox stated that while Poilievre’s rhetoric draws Trump comparisons, in terms of policy “he’s actually considerably more moderate than Trump or European radicals”.

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. In response, the Liberal Party spokesman Kevin Lemkay stated that such actions did not fit the prime minister’s “commitment to serious and positive discourse” while Conservative Party spokesman Sam Lilly stated “it’s clear that it’s the Liberals who are attempting to bring American-style politics to our country”.

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”.

Restart has been compared to QAnon by Ariane Tabatabai, in terms of “thinking that spreads worldwide”. Among ideas shared by the group is that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has died (or went into a health crisis) in 2017 and a double plays his role in public.

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. They often call it part of a “deep state.”

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. They began sharing Trump’s conspiracy theories in an attempt to overturn the 2020 American presidential election.

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, in which he stated: “We have had very serious problems with Christians who are being treated unfairly in Nigeria. We are going to work on that problem very, very hard because we cannot allow that to happen”. 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”. As Trump was sworn in in January 2017, IPOB held a rally in support of Trump that led to fights with Nigerian security forces and resulted in injuries and arrests. On January 30, 2020, IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu attended a Trump rally in Iowa as a special guest, invited by the Republican Party of Iowa. According to a 2020 poll from Pew Research, 58% of Nigerians had favorable views of Donald Trump, the fourth highest percentage globally.

According to John Campbell of Council on Foreign Relations, Trump’s popularity in Nigeria can be explained by “widespread disappointment in a country with growing poverty, many security problems, rising crime, and a government seen as unresponsive and corrupt”, and his popularity is likely stronger among wealthier urban Nigerians rather than the majority of Nigerians who live in rural areas or urban slums and are less likely to have strong opinions on Trump.

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; and that each has benefited from uncertain political times.

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 with Putin presenting Russia as a defense against Western liberal elites, while Trump criticizes global groups and claims they harm American interests.

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 the lowest any president has had since 1977, according to surveys by Gallup.