The Cult of Trump
Easy to Get In - Hard to Get Out...What You Always Knew, But What You Didn't Know to Ask...
I will be sitting down soon with Dr. Steven Hassan, renowned cult expert and author of the ‘Cult of Trump’ who will explain the intricacies of undue influence and mind control - that is how cults can take hold in seemingly rational, intelligent people, to control and influence their behavior. It will be a discussion that I know a little something about - having written on undue influence, coercion and control in my legal briefings.
Undue Influence: What it is, and How it Works…
In the law, undue influence is often exerted on a person who is susceptible to unrelenting influence due to some extenuating circumstance(s). Whether it be a vulnerability following the loss of a loved one, a longtime spouse, a child - a tragedy that upends the psyche of an otherwise “rational” person, or takes advantage of an aged person who has lost the ability to “resist,” or discern manipulation, and/or all of the above. When this “vulnerability” becomes evident to those in a close or trusting relationship with a compromised person - the insidious influence can easily manifest and take hold.
As I have written in my legal briefs, undue influence usually occurs in close family or intimate relationships. The control is often exerted by a cunning individual on a “susceptible person” or “target victim” who that victim knows and trusts. Usually a family member, friend or close adviser - whereby the manipulator uses their position of trust, confidence and in more extreme cases of dependence or reliance - to exploit the unwitting person. Most often the victim or “mark” is an aged person, or someone who has suffered a trauma, unresolved grief, and is compromised in some way - making them vulnerable, and thereby susceptible to undue influence and manipulation.
In the legal sense of the word - undue influence is unrelenting influence, often followed by falsehoods or malignment about someone close to the victim. It along with isolation and/or domination causes the susceptible person to either shy away from, mistrust, or break ties with the others who don’t align with the manipulator’s perceptions or desires - or all of the above. The manipulator does so to isolate the mark, so that their “influence” and “control” will be undisturbed and unchallenged.
“Gatekeeping” Meaning and Affect
This phenomenon of isolating and manipulating is called “gatekeeping” - is all too often used as a means of inheriting vast wealth. Sadly, the courts are not always savvy to the undercurrents of this pervasive and stealthy manipulation, and in many cases have rewarded “mightily” the person exerting the control and abuse - because like all abuse, it happens behind closed doors, in secret - sometimes even under the family radar. And the savvy manipulator often engages others “unwittingly” in their attempt to co-opt the mark. These psychological technique are often used to disenfranchise a sibling, a grandchild from their rightful inheritance. It is most often, but not always, by someone who has maintained an established relationship with the compromised person; although there are cases when a new person enters the life of a susceptible or elderly individual and swindles them out of their savings. Sadly however, manipulation often goes undetected by those outside the construct of the “invisible gate” - including the courts.
The Honing of Donald’s Influence
Now this brings us to Donald Trump. As we know, his niece, Mary Trump has written extensively about Donald, and how he worked to get his older brother Fred (and father’s namesake) removed as the elder Trump’s first-in-line devisee or heir to the Trump family fortune. By deriding his older brother and his family, Donald manipulated his way to gain not only his father’s favor, but much of his vast wealth. A man so greedy for money and attention, he made sure his now deceased brother Fred and his family - including Mary Trump, grew up living in the family’s subpar and windswept tenements. He also made sure at Christmastime, his brother’s family received “regifted” gifts - not a good Christian ethos of “giving” for those with vast wealth - something Mary writes about in her book.
Beyond the facade of wealth, on Donald’s watch, his sibling Fred got pneumonia living in their subpar government subsidized apartments - sometimes without adequate heat, and often without adequate health insurance coverage the Trump family business could well-afford. Not to mention Fred Jr., also being derided by his father as not being “tough enough” comparing him to “Donald” - driving Mary Trump’s father Fred, Jr. - to alcoholism and a premature death.
Not Much Has Changed…
And we see this callous egocentric behavior in him today - there is no remorse or even a glimmer of regret for his past misdeeds. Those of us who actually observe his behavior, see a con man: who derided his own brother, steals from his own charity, bad-mouths his opponents, spreads falsehoods against the most vulnerable populations calling them “vermin” and “poisoning the blood of the nation” - calling veterans “losers and suckers” - these are the words of a depraved and despicable man; a man with no soul, no conscience, just an insatiable greed for money, power and recognition. Just like the greedy relatives I have described in my written briefs - taking advantage of a grieving widower, a grieving father or uncle - taking advantage of a situation where they should be lending a hand, not pilfering the pockets or alienating his kin. But with no conscience and no moral compass, these people need only ensure they have a firm grip on the purse-strings of their mark, whoever they are: a father, uncle, mother, aunt, friend, a “supporter” - to get the benefit of their handiwork - to steal their riches, make a buck, and even worse - garner their vote.
In Comes Doctor Hassan
Dr. Hassan is going to explain the similarities and differences between these types of maneuverers - manipulating the unsuspecting: vulnerable crowds of supporters with “bad” talk that people like Donald take issue, feverishly working to exact personal advantage and domination. What is most important to remember: cults engage people to adopt “their” way of thought, to shun others who see things differently. Sound familiar? They do so by deriding others and placing those they see as their “enemies” in a false light. Pandering to their shills to “donate” to his cause or grievance - whatever it may be - to increase their already vast wealth.
But like Mary Trump so aptly titled her book, “Too Much and Never Enough” - just says it all. Like the greedy relative - the greedy politician does the same - but as we see, on a much larger scale.
So if you are like me, you’ll be interested in hearing Dr. Hassan, the foremost authority on cults tell us how people get into these cults, the insidiousness of the brainwashing or manipulation - why they stay in them - and most importantly, how they can get out. I know in my personal experience with people who have been hoodwinked by an unscrupulous family member, almost nothing seems to bring about rational thought to those already manipulated and indoctrinated - that is why Dr. Hassan’s work is incredibly important.
So stay tuned to The Legal Edition - for an upcoming interview and spirited discussion with Dr. Hassan on cults, how they exact control, their pervasiveness in American culture - especially politics - and how to help those who fail to see reality, chart a path out.
Copyright 2024. Mary Kay Elloian, MBA, JD, Esq. - The Legal Edition® - Legal, Business & Policy News - TheLegalEdition.com
Help share this message!
Like this post!
Re-stack it using the ♻️ button below!
Share this on Substack and other social media sites:
Become a PAID Subscriber to Join the conversation!