*As featured in the streaming documentary #UNTRUTHânow with a new foreword by George Conway and an afterword by the author*
A masterful and eye-opening examination of Trump and the coercive control tactics he uses to build a fanatical devotion in his supporters written by âan authority on breaking away from cultsâŠan argument thatâŠbears consideration as the next election cycle heats upâ (Kirkus Reviews).
Since the 2016 election, Donald Trumpâs behavior has become both more disturbing and yet increasingly familiar. He relies on phrases like, âfake news,â âbuild the wall,â and continues to spread the divisive mentality of us-vs.-them. He lies constantly, has no conscience, never admits when he is wrong, and projects all of his shortcomings on to others. He has become more authoritarian, more outrageous, and yet many of his followers remain blindly devoted. Scott Adams, the creator of Dilbert and a major Trump supporter, calls him one of the most persuasive people living. His need to squash alternate information and his insistence of constant ego stroking are all characteristics of other famous leadersâcult leaders.
In The Cult of Trump, mind control and licensed mental health expert Steven Hassan draws parallels between our current president and people like Jim Jones, David Koresh, Ron Hubbard, and Sun Myung Moon, arguing that this presidency is in many ways like a destructive cult. He specifically details the ways in which people are influenced through an array of social psychology methods and how they become fiercely loyal and obedient. Hassan was a former âMoonieâ himself, and he presents a âthoughtful and well-researched analysis of some of the most puzzling aspects of the current presidency, including the remarkable passivity of fellow Republicans [and] the gross pandering of many members of the pressâ (Thomas G. Gutheil, MD and professor of psychiatry, Harvard Medical School).
The Cult of Trump is an accessible and in-depth analysis of the president, showing that under the right circumstances, even sane, rational, well-adjusted people can be persuaded to believe the most outrageous ideas. âThis book is a must for anyone who wants to understand the current political climateâ (Judith Stevens-Long, PhD and author of Living Well, Dying Well).
