MAKING MONSTERS
The Media’s Frenzied Fabrication of Trump (& His Supporters)
Yesterday, I posted a simple message that quickly took off: “People, relax. He's not out to get you. Turn off the TV.” Let’s take a deeper dive. The image accompanying this article was created by AI using terms like 'Trump, Nazi, monster, crowd of monsters, garbage men.' Distorted? Certainly. But if you recognize that, ask yourself: How different is this from the portrayal in popular media, and how has it shaped your perspective? As a check, consider this: How would you feel if your own portrait were determined in the same way?
It’s both hilarious and tragic to witness how otherwise rational people have bought into a meticulously crafted caricature of Donald Trump—one painted in such extreme colors that it borders on a comic book villain. This portrait is far from who he actually is, and yet many seem convinced he’s the creature from the Black Lagoon with orange hair and a swastika armband. It’s a collective frenzy that inflates select incidents and statements into the entirety of his character and abilities, leaving no room for nuance.
Just in recent days, mainstream media figures, celebrities, and politicians have taken to the airwaves, feeding the narrative of Trump as a dictator in waiting. Fear-mongering terms like “brown shirts,” “Nazi parades,” and accusations of fascist tendencies flood the screen. It’s been like this from the beginning of Trump’s political career when comedians like Kathy Griffin, for example, went as far as posting an image holding a bloody Trump mask in 2017, an "artistic" expression that blurred lines and sparked debate on where criticism ends and threats begin. These portrayals aren’t just rhetorical flourish; they distort the truth, creating an exaggerated villain that bears little resemblance to the actual person.
Hollywood and elite commentators haven’t shied away from their apocalyptic fantasies. Rob Reiner and Barbara Streisand have repeatedly sounded alarms of impending doom, claiming democracy itself is at stake if Trump holds office. These kinds of comments are absurd but effective, painting Trump supporters as unwitting allies in an authoritarian movement, fueling divisive rhetoric. Celebrities have even made insinuations that border on calls for violence, while elected officials like Maxine Waters have explicitly encouraged public harassment of Republican leaders. The result? Literal street violence, threats, and the dehumanization of anyone wearing a red hat.
The tendency to uncritically judge Trump through this exaggerated lens—often called “Trump Derangement Syndrome” (TDS)—reflects a vulnerability to propaganda tactics rooted in psychology. Psychologist Albert Bandura’s work on moral disengagement shows how propaganda distorts certain “seeds of truth” while stripping away context and humanity, leaving an easy-to-hate caricature rather than a complex person. Ironically, those who decry Trump’s faults often mirror his flaws by engaging in institutional-level disparagement, where isolated actions—both real and imagined—are amplified until they entirely overshadow his character. The language surrounding “Nazi,” “deplorables” and “garbage” to describe Trump supporters further mirrors historic propaganda tactics, from Nazi Germany to McCarthyism. This dynamic isn’t just a warning for Trump’s detractors; it challenges all of us to recognize and resist the sway of propaganda, even in our views of figures like Kamala Harris.
The big questions regarding any person's characterization: (1) Is it true? (2) Are we extending the fair treatment we’d want for ourselves?
Meanwhile, it’s hard to ignore the irony: the tactics they decry are happening in blue-dominated cities, where anti-Trump protests devolved into violence, where political leaders tolerate destructive movements under the guise of anti-fascism. The Capitol Hill autonomous zone in Seattle, for example, became a lawless region under the supposed banner of progressivism. And, of course, the infamous Republican baseball practice shooting and the violence against Republicans on January 6th—a situation with peaceful attendees now facing disproportionate sentences—all point to a pattern of selective outrage.
When you strip away this surreal caricature, a critical question arises: who in government leadership today could rival Trump’s achievements or record of pragmatic action? Take Kamala Harris, for instance. If one were to create a job description for the role of vice president—let alone future president—it’s hard to find a single accomplishment in her record that fits the bill. And yet, she was within reach of the highest office, supported largely as a symbolic figure in a party that has held power for nearly four years without measurable gains.
The truth is, more people are waking up, rejecting this concocted caricature in favor of reality. As the facades fade, individuals from all walks of life see the exaggerations for what they are. And this awakening, praise God, brings hope. People are finally looking beyond the frenzy, analyzing Trump’s record objectively, and challenging the fear-filled caricature that’s been pushed for so long.
At the end of the day, remember the words of Fr. John Riccardo: “The enemy is the enemy.” His point is clear: our true enemy isn’t any human being but a preternatural power that despises us and thrives on division. Don’t let him. Be at peace. God is bigger.
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BUY NOW: “The Magnificent Piglets of Pigletsville” our present-day plight wrapped in a fairytale, predicts everything over the past year and reveals what lies beneath.
LISTEN NOW BELOW. I wrote and released this a few months ago, along with eleven other tracks on Shatterglass Scallywags' “Heal Our Land” album. It says it all.