Changing the Mind of a Trump Supporter
Original Question: What could possibly change the mind of a dedicated Trump fan?
Honestly? There’s only one sure-fire way to change the mind of someone vis-a-vis Donald J. Trump:
Firsthand experience.
I’m not being glib, either. (Well, not just being glib). It’s worth noting just how many people who have known and interacted with Donald Trump—both before,[1][2] during,[3][4][5] and after[6] his ascendancy into the Presidency—have come away with the impression that he is fundamentally incapable of being President.
Even lifelong conservative Republicans. Even people who voted for the man—including former and current[7] members of the Trump Administration. In fact, the remarkable turnover in the Trump administration has actually had a number of interesting consequences, chief among them all the books that reveal the inner workings of the Trump administration. Books from high level officials like John Bolton, and low level officials like Omarosa Manigault Newman, and even "outsiders" like Bob Woodward.[8]
On the one hand, it is by no means uncommon for former government officials to write memoirs and books about their time proximate to one of the world’s most powerful offices, and it is perhaps unsurprising that staff and hangers-on who have parted ways with the President under less than amicable circumstances might have an ax to grind. But the sheer volume of the "less than amicable" dismissals and resignations in the Trump administration is telling in and of itself—as is the matter of just how many of the stories (paid and unpaid, attributed and unattributed) are categorically negative in their portrayals and assessments of the President.
In fact, just as an aside, consider this:
President Obama rather unceremoniously fired not one, not two, but three high-ranking generals during his tenure as President of the United States:
All three of these men were fired by President Obama for reasons of varying consequence, and most if not all of them would undoubtedly have ample reason to want to "get back" at him for their treatment.
And yet…none of them have.
[UPDATE (10/04/2020): In fact, at least one of the aforementioned generals has gone "above and beyond" so to speak, and done the complete opposite. So…that’s neat.
(Source: Stanley McChrystal, a Top General Fired Over Insults to Biden, Says He’ll Vote for Him.)]
Even Michael Flynn has never (to my knowledge) made any salacious "revelations" about alleged impropriety or borderline illegal behavior he witnessed on the part of President Obama—or at least, none that have held any water, or attracted any serious attention even in the conservative blogosphere—even though President Obama abruptly fired him like he was a contestant on The Apprentice and even though his later tenure in the Trump administration provided him ample opportunity (and motivation) for doing so.
In fact, almost none of the people who have left the Obama administration have had anything less than glowing praise of him, and fond memories of their time in the White House—even though many of them acknowledge the stressful, emotionally charged, and at times painful events they often experienced in the course of their service. Seriously, what other President in living memory could claim the same? Where are all the tell-all books about the President’s mistreatment or abuse of his staff? Where are all the allegations of double-dealing, corruption, and financial improprieties? Where is all that hot, juicy gossip—including the "allegations" that Trump promised he would "get to the bottom of" once he inherited the reins of power and the authority to conduct "independent" investigations?
(Speaking of which…whatever happened to the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity? Oh. Right.[9])
Indeed, although there is no shortage of conspiracy theories and gossamer-thin "allegations" about President Obama, it is worth noting that literally none of them have originated from (or been propagated by) senior members of his staff or his Cabinet.
In contrast, there are no shortage of people who have known Trump personally who have not only quietly stopped supporting him, but who have actively gone out of their way to oppose him. (EDIT: And yes, this list includes people who have nothing to gain from such opposition—not even plea deals for favorable sentencing for alleged crimes they engaged in, either independently or on Trump’s behalf). Indeed, dozens of actual members of his administration—from career diplomats, civil servants, military officers, bureaucrats, and even political appointees that he appointed—have come forward raising alarm bells and clarion calls about the dangerous and erratic behavior they’d witnessed, and warning others of the same.
Which, getting back to the original question as asked, leads us to one inevitable conclusion:
The best way to change someone’s mind about Donald Trump is to let them get to know him, preferably by forcing them to spend any significant amount of time with him.
Because to know Donald Trump—to truly know him—is to hate him. (And truly hate him).
Footnotes
