Trumpism Has Become the Republican Party’s New Religion

By: Donald V. Watkins

Copyrighted and Published on March 28, 2021

Trumpism started out in July 2015 as a personality cult of Republicans who were mesmerized by candidate Donald J. Trump and who supported his bid for the U.S. Presidency. On August 1, 2015, I was the first American journalist to publish an article explaining how and why Trump would win the Republican Party nomination and the presidency itself. Political pundits thought I had lost my mind. I knew my predictions were right.

I also predicted Trump’s defeat in 2020. Many political pundits subsequently joined me in this predication. Trump’s incompetent handling of the COVID-19 pandemic doomed his re-election chances.

After Trump’s defeat on November 3, 2020, I predicted that Trump would try to block the certification of Joe Biden as the winner of the election, and he would also attempt to usher in his concept of “minority rule” in the new paradigm of American politics. I asked whether a second American Civil War was on the horizon?

Insurrection at the Capitol

Trump and his “patriots” answered my question with the deadly Insurrection at the U.S. Capital on January 6, 2021. Thankfully, Attorney General William Barr, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky), and Vice President Mike Pence defected from Trump’s planned coup d’état against the duly elected government of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris prior to the Insurrection. Defense Secretary Mark Esper refused to participate in the coup, as well. Trump promptly fired Esper on November 9, 2020. Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller aided and abetted the Insurrectionists by refusing to allow the National Guard to deploy to the scene of the riot at the Capitol in a timely manner. Five people died in the riot, including a Capitol police officer.

In the aftermath of the Insurrection, one thing has become crystal clear – Trumpism is no longer a personality-based cult; it is a religion. And, in Trumpism, Donald J. Trump is “God”. Trumpism has usurped the Tea Party, conservative Republican Party politics, rational political thought, and civility. It is madness on steroids and is spreading within the Republic Party like “civic cancer”.

Trump Worshipers Unhinged

Just when Americans thought Trumpism could get no worse, it took another nosedive. On February 28, 2021, Trump appeared at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Orlando, Florida to promote his lies about widespread election fraud and to declare his intent to remain a dominant force within the Republican Party. The conference turned out to be nothing more than a religious gathering where the attendees worshipped Trump and a golden statue in his likeness that was on display.

In a straw poll of just over 1,000 attendees, 97% approved of the job Trump did as president. Sixty-eight percent said Trump should run again. Fifty-five percent said Trump was their preferred candidate for president in 2024.

Mainstream Republican conservatives like McConnell and his wife, former Trump Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, and Wyoming Representative Liz Cheney did not attend the event. Mike Pence declined his invitation to attend.

Trump worshippers included Goya Foods CEO Robert Unanue, who declared that Trump is still the “actual president of the United States”; former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo; Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer; Acting Director of National Intelligence Ric Grenell; Budget Director Russ Vought; House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy; House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La); Rep. Chris Stewart (R-Utah); Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga); Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz); Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio); Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL); Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL); Florida Governor Ron DeSantis; South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem; militia group members from the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers; and various white supremacy groups, among others.

For reasons that defy rational thought, Trump, in the eyes of his worshippers, is bigger than the U.S. Constitution, the rule of law, and the sanctity of our democrative institutions. There is no human intervention that can free the Republican Party from Trump’s death grip.

Epilogue

My final prediction in this saga is that God will intervene to stop the madness of Trumpism. He always does. Exodus 20: 3-4 tells us how Trumpism will end. Luke 1:52 signaled the beginning of the end of Trumpism. God will finish it in grand style.

Throughout the annals of recorded history, no man has been bigger than God, though many thought they were. Whoever thought of the “golden statue” of Donald J. Trump doomed the religion of Trumpism.

PHOTO: Walt Handelsman cartoon featuring the golden statue of Trump displayed at CPAC.

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