Unpacking the Trump Cult: Psychoanalysis, the Authoritarian Personality, and the Humanities

The rise of authoritarian movements, exemplified in the United States by the cult-like following of Donald Trump, compels us to examine the psychological and social forces that sustain such allegiances. Drawing on the works of Sigmund Freud, Max Horkheimer, Theodor W. Adorno, Hanna Arendt, and Erich Fromm, this piece explores how psychoanalysis and the humanities together illuminate the deeper underpinnings of authoritarianism—and provide tools for resistance.

Freud’s Illusion: The Psychological Roots of Authority

In The Future of an Illusion (1927), Freud examines religion as a psychological construct born from humanity’s desire to mitigate fear and uncertainty. Freud posits that humans turn to religion as a projection of an all-powerful father figure, offering protection in exchange for submission. As Freud writes:

Religion is an attempt to get control over the sensory world, in which we are placed, by means of the wish-world, which we have developed inside us as a result of biological and psychological necessities.

This dynamic of submission to authority is not limited to religion; it extends to political ideologies that promise order and security. Freud’s insight helps us understand why individuals gravitate toward authoritarian leaders, who symbolically fulfill the same paternal function: alleviating existential anxiety through domination and certainty.

Horkheimer, Adorno, and the Authoritarian Personality

Horkheimer and Adorno, deeply influenced by Freud, expanded on this dynamic in The Authoritarian Personality (1950). They argued that the psychological predisposition to submit to authority is not an innate trait but a product of socio-economic conditions, particularly those generated by capitalism. Like Freud’s analysis of religious submission, Horkheimer and Adorno identify a psychological need for security as central to authoritarian tendencies.

In their Marxist critique, they connect the psychological to the structural. Capitalism, they argue, fosters alienation and isolation, breaking down the communal ties that once provided meaning and stability. In this vacuum, authoritarian figures arise as pseudo-fathers, demanding submission in exchange for a sense of belonging. As they put it, "The readiness to accept authoritarian personalities stems from the internalization of hierarchical authority structures in the family, reinforced by the socio-economic system."

Freud’s notion of the wish-fulfillment underpinning religion thus parallels Horkheimer and Adorno’s analysis of authoritarianism as a psychological compensation for systemic alienation. Both perspectives reveal how authoritarianism thrives by exploiting deep-seated human insecurities.

Fromm’s Escape and Arendt’s Warning

Erich Fromm builds on Freud’s and the Frankfurt School’s work in Escape from Freedom (1941), where he explores how individuals flee from the burdens of freedom into the comfort of submission. He argues that modern liberal democracies, while ostensibly freeing individuals, often leave them isolated and powerless, creating fertile ground for authoritarianism. As Fromm writes, "Man does not want to be free; he wants to escape from freedom."

Hannah Arendt, in The Origins of Totalitarianism (1951), complements this analysis by emphasizing the social and political dimensions of mass movements. Like Fromm, Arendt highlights how loneliness and atomization create conditions ripe for authoritarian domination. Her observation that "the ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi...but people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction no longer exists" resonates powerfully in today’s post-truth political climate.

Trumpism as a Case Study

Trumpism exemplifies these dynamics. Trump’s appeal to his followers mimics Freud’s description of religious faith: he positions himself as a protector, demanding loyalty in exchange for alleviating existential and social anxieties. His rhetoric and policies exploit fear, offer simplistic solutions to complex problems, and promise a return to a mythical past—a wish-fulfillment akin to Freud’s analysis of religious longing.

At the same time, Trumpism’s authoritarian dynamics mirror Horkheimer and Adorno’s insights. His movement thrives on the alienation and disenchantment of late capitalism, offering his followers a sense of purpose and belonging within a hierarchical structure. This dynamic reveals the psychological and systemic roots of his appeal, illustrating the enduring relevance of the Frankfurt School’s critique.

The Role of the Humanities: Resisting Illusions

Both Freud and the Frankfurt School saw education as a key tool for resisting authoritarianism. Freud argued that humanity could overcome its illusions—not through repression, but through the cultivation of reason and self-awareness. Similarly, Horkheimer and Adorno championed critical education as a means of dismantling the psychological and systemic conditions that give rise to authoritarianism.

Here, the humanities play a crucial role. By fostering critical thinking, empathy, and a commitment to truth, the humanities empower individuals to resist the lure of authoritarian simplicity. Literature, philosophy, history, and art challenge the wish-fulfilling illusions that Freud described, offering instead a vision of human flourishing grounded in autonomy, connection, and dialogue.

Conclusion: Psychoanalysis and the Humanities as Antidotes

The intersection of Freud’s psychoanalysis and the Marxist critiques of Horkheimer, Adorno, Fromm, and Arendt provides a powerful framework for understanding and resisting authoritarianism. Together, they reveal how psychological vulnerabilities and socio-economic conditions converge to produce authoritarian movements—and how education and critical reflection can counteract these tendencies.

Trumpism, like other authoritarian phenomena, exploits fear and alienation, offering illusions of security and belonging at the cost of freedom and truth. By integrating psychoanalysis with the humanities, we can confront these illusions, fostering a more just and reflective society. As Freud observed, "The voice of reason is small, but persistent." In that persistence lies our hope for the future.