In my book, The Cult of Trump, I explored the parallels between Trump and cult leaders, arguing that his presidency was much like a destructive cult. Trump’s lies, lack of conscience, inability to admit when he is wrong, and projecting his shortcomings onto others can be seen in many cult leaders. Trump’s indoctrination techniques to build fanatical devotion in his supporters are akin to those of Jim Jones, David Koresh, Ron Hubbard, and Sun Myung Moon. With his rise to the presidency, he became more authoritarian. Though he lost the election in 2020, he continues the lie that it was stolen, and his supporters continue to believe him.
