Benito Mussolini, Hugo Chavez, and Mao Zedong – all powerful leaders who had a huge influence over their people. Their ability to win over crowds often made them seem larger than life.
Many on the progressive side feel nothing but scorn for the U.S. president. But, whether we like it or not, there’s no denying how popular he is with his supporters. His fan base is massive—before being banned from Twitter (prior to Elon Musk buying it), he had over 88 million followers. And in the 2024 election season, sellers made more than $140 million on MAGA merchandise on Amazon.
One of the most shocking moments of Trump’s influence came after he lost the 2020 election to Joseph Biden. In what can only be described as an attempted coup, thousands of his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6th. The riot led to the deaths of seven people and injuries to at least 140 police officers.
Trump’s popularity has taken over the Republican party, pushing out more moderate voices. At first, politicians like Lindsey Graham, Nikki Haley, and J.D. Vance criticized him. Graham once called him a “race-baiting xenophobic religious bigot” and Vance even said he was “reprehensible” and an “idiot.” But over time, they changed their tune. Graham later warned fellow Republicans, “If you don’t stand behind this President, we’re not going to stand behind you.” Some believe this was because his own approval ratings went up after supporting Trump more publicly.
With Trump’s huge influence, criticism from within his own party has mostly disappeared. That silence is dangerous—if Republican politicians are afraid to speak up, it’s unlikely that a Republican-controlled Congress will do much to check the president’s power.
With the new attacks on the courts, it’s uncertain if we can rely on them.
Charismatic leaders often share key traits:
- A cult of personality, where people see them as heroes or even god-like figures.
- Populist speeches, usually focused on nationalism.
- Blaming immigrants or foreign groups for the country’s problems.
- Big promises about making the nation stronger.
- Weakening democracy, such as attacking the free press, courts, and the Constitution.
Right now, we are watching a president take too much power [LINK TO About this Blog]. There are even concerns about government-controlled media, with Elon Musk’s control of X and Jeff Bezos’ Washington Post grab. Whether the country’s system of checks and balances will stop these power grabs—only time will tell. But with Trump and Vance’s suggestions to undercut federal judges, the system is under threat – whether the institutions of our checks and balances rise to the task is a matter to be seen.
