Trump’s cult of personality: Sinclair Lewis predicted it

Posted by | January 26, 2017 06:28 | Filed under: Politics Religion

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Lewis famously said, “When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.” Sounds a lot like the patriotic Christian nationalism Donald Trump has exploited.

There have been many words used to describe President Donald Trump’s volatile campaign, but “religious” is rarely one of them. Despite successfully wooing white evangelical leaders and votes, the business mogul was roundly criticized by everyone from conservative Christian leader Russell Moore to Pope Francis for his infamous missteps regarding matters of faith.

But if Trump’s inauguration and the days immediately following are any indication, his administration is shaping up to be far more religious affair.

Trump slid into “God-talk” several times during his inaugural address, so much so that TIME called the swearing-in ceremony “very Godly” and noted that his use of religious rhetoric was “unusually blunt.” The Washington Post even suggested that his speech was his “most religious” yet, as the businessman almost never quotes scripture with such confidence (when he cited a Bible passage in front of evangelicals during the campaign, for instance, he bungled the delivery). …

Trump and his religious surrogates aren’t just lifting up general religious platitudes. Rather, the president’s inauguration—especially his inaugural address—ushered in a revival of an old but controversial American theological tradition, amended for a new era: Christian nationalism, Trump style.

Again, you are encouraged to read the whole think piece, which explains how Trump co-opted several conservative evangelical tropes and “dog whistles” to equate “god’s people” with Americans loyal to him and claiming that America will be protected by God because he is president. The two people behind his inaugural address, Steve Bannon and Stephen Miller, know a few things about stimulating the lizard brain of the many different factions that constitute Trump’s base, including right-wing Christian leaders.


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Copyright 2017 Liberaland
By: dave-dr-gonzo

David Hirsch, a.k.a. Dave "Doctor" Gonzo*, is a renegade record producer, video producer, writer, reformed corporate shill, and still-registered lobbyist for non-one-percenter performing artists and musicians. He lives in a heavily fortified compound in one of Manhattan's less trendy neighborhoods.

* Hirsch is the third person to use the pseudonym, a not-so-veiled tribute to journalist and author Hunter S. Thompson, with the permission of his predecessors Gene Gaudette of American Politics Journal (currently webmaster and chief bottlewasher at Liberaland) and Stephen Meese at Smashmouth Politics.

15 responses to Trump’s cult of personality: Sinclair Lewis predicted it

  1. robert January 26th, 2017 at 07:23

    I would say gwb would be Mr. Sinclair’s description but somehow trump managed to turn it up

  2. Willys41 January 26th, 2017 at 08:48

    7 days in and already the most corrupt administration in the history of the US, and breaking all records for ignorance & incompetence.

    • The Original Just Me January 26th, 2017 at 11:08

      God Reagan holds the record for the most Indicted and Convicted Administration but Trump will Easily ” BLOW ” Him away and Trump Knows about ” BLOW “.

  3. William January 26th, 2017 at 11:01

    Evangelists must be the most gullible people ever. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/5ce1e7f1564aae20c3465672eac10d27fb7ad53d9a44efcd36c988afec77edaa.jpg

    • The Original Just Me January 26th, 2017 at 11:05

      The Evangelist’s Belief if in the ” Big Guy in the Sky ” is Proof of their Gullibility.

    • DropItLikeItsHot January 26th, 2017 at 12:44

      You see mom keeping watch over Trump’s hands on the little girl.

  4. The Original Just Me January 26th, 2017 at 11:02

    This THING We have in the White House IS the Rebirth of Hitler and the VICTORY of the NAZIS over the U. S.

  5. William January 26th, 2017 at 11:33

    I’m just going to leave this here.

    http://americannewsx.com/hot-off-the-press/fact-checking-we-are-4-days-in-pay-attention/

  6. StoneyCurtisll January 26th, 2017 at 15:39

    It can’t happen Here…(wanna bet)
    http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E_YVPwz0-c8/Vm8PPUzJDxI/AAAAAAAARJk/NN5bZssTRSk/s1600/la-na-tt-trump-fascist-inclinations-20151209-001.jpg

  7. anothertoothpick January 26th, 2017 at 15:42

    Pumpkin head will pick the stupidest solution to the problem.

    And then go to war over it.

  8. amersham1046 January 26th, 2017 at 19:01

    Wrapped in the flag yes, but there is no room in Trump’s world for religion

    • Larry Schmitt January 27th, 2017 at 08:12

      He believes only in himself.

  9. Buford2k11 January 27th, 2017 at 08:37

    well…God sent in the tornados and thunderstorms to establish that the Red States who voted for trump are in real trouble…GOD will punish those who voted for trump…hehehe…Believe, Brothers and Sisters…Believe… https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/637c328eb35e541e92f9946ce1054fe2ab1f3a8525bbc75d128a85c4675faf91.jpg
    My recon into trump territory provided some nice photos…

  10. Waldenpond January 27th, 2017 at 23:23

    While I agree with the intent and spirit of this article, in the interest of adherance to factual principles it should be pointed out that there is no clear evidence that Lewis ever issued that famous quotation: https://english.illinoisstate.edu/sinclairlewis/

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