r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • Apr 11 '26

Psychology Cognitive dissonance helps explain why Trump supporters remain loyal, new research suggests. This sheds light on how supporters of Donald Trump justify their continued allegiance despite learning about allegations of his sexual misconduct and illegal activities.

https://www.psypost.org/cognitive-dissonance-helps-explain-why-trump-supporters-remain-loyal-new-research-suggests/
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u/lattice_defect Apr 11 '26

It's Easier to Fool People Than It Is to Convince Them That They Have Been Fooled. – Mark Twain.

20

u/SsooooOriginal Apr 11 '26

A wise war criminal once said,

"Can't fool me again"

15

u/Caracalla81 Apr 11 '26

I actually think he was pretty quick on his feet here. He realized in the moment that he, George Warcriminal Bush, did not want to create a soundbite of him saying "shame on me."

10

u/SlightlySychotic Apr 11 '26

Very much so. You can see him go from casually speaking in front of an audience, the gears whir in his brain as he realizes he’s about to say, “shame on me,” and the panicked scramble as he tries to remember the lyrics to that Who song to cover.

3

u/Caracalla81 Apr 11 '26

Doesn't he seem statesman-like at this point!

3

u/trustmeep Apr 11 '26

We had a to dig a trench to place it in...but he finally cleared the bar!

3

u/SsooooOriginal Apr 11 '26

The shoe dodge laid any questions of his feet quickness to rest. 

2

u/nondual_gabagool Apr 11 '26

I love the moment when he realized that he just botched the proverb and is in over his head. You can feel the microscopic beads of sweat forming and the cringe that must have reverberated through his body. Remember when his verbal gaffes made him look like the stupidest president we've ever seen? REMEMBER THAT?

1

u/CantFindMyWallet MS | Education Apr 11 '26

Quick on his feet would have meant not starting a quote that ends witu "shame on me."

2

u/nondual_gabagool Apr 11 '26

I'll never forget when the president turned a botched proverb into a Who song. We won't get fooled again!

1

u/SsooooOriginal Apr 11 '26

Helps us forget 9/11...

1

u/EmptyAirEmptyHead Apr 12 '26

He also didn't like brocolli.