The Daily Beast Podcast I Was in a Cult. This Is How I Know Trump is One
Nov 3, 2025
Dr. Steven Hassan, a mental health professional and cult expert, reveals how Trump's movement embodies classic political cult traits, from manipulated grievances to online indoctrination. He discusses the psychological tactics Trump uses to maintain control and the emotional silos his supporters find themselves in. Additionally, Hassan offers strategies for reconnecting with estranged loved ones in the MAGA movement and critiques Democrats for their shortcomings. He emphasizes the need for long-term strategies to counteract cult-like influence in politics.
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Moon's Plan To Infiltrate Government
- Hassan recalls Sun Myung Moon telling followers to infiltrate the U.S. government and replace democracy with a theocracy.
- He describes internal Moon speeches outlining plans to amend the Constitution and impose severe penalties on dissenters.
Online Ecosystems Amplify Control
- The internet and social media reshaped mind control by enabling constant targeted influence through feeds and algorithms.
- Excessive screen time and pandemic isolation intensified emotional manipulation and behavioral change.
Personality Shaped By Image Control
- Hassan links Trump's upbringing with Norman Vincent Peale's 'power of positive thinking' and image control shaping a cultlike persona.
- He argues Trump cultivated certainty and deception, amplified by enablers and financial bailouts.
