Help for MAGA Supporters (and others) Who Don't Understand Why President Trump Does Shocking, Confusing Things

Hint: It is not a matter of intellect or memory. He is not stupid.

Jun 11, 2025

Note to Readers:

This post is the first of a series of four posts that explain why President Trump does what he does. Here are the working titles of future posts:

Why it is Important to Understand Why President Trump Does What He Does
Overview of President Trump’s Relationship with Fear
Examples of Trump’s Fears

Fear Affects the Brain

Occasionally, Donald Trump’s behaviors leave even his supporters confused or struggling to reconcile contradictions and understand why he does what he does. The most notable examples include:

Pardoning January 6th Offenders: One of the most confusing and controversial actions for many supporters was Trump’s decision to pardon and commute the sentences of over 1,500 people charged in the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, including those who assaulted police officers. This move clashed with the law-and-order stance that attracted many of his voters and sent mixed signals about accountability and support for law enforcement.
Extreme and Incendiary Rhetoric: Trump’s recent calls for the execution of a former military leader, urging police to shoot shoplifters, and describing political opponents as “vermin” have unsettled even some loyalists. Such rhetoric is far more extreme than typical political discourse and echoes authoritarian regimes, which many supporters find difficult to justify or explain.
Contradictory Policy Positions and Promises: Supporters have often been left uncertain by Trump’s shifting stances—such as promising sweeping immigration crackdowns while also making statements that suggest more moderate or inconsistent approaches. Some voters admit they don’t expect him to follow through on all his rhetoric, but the inconsistency itself can be confusing.
“Shock and Awe” Executive Orders: Trump’s use of sweeping, sometimes legally questionable executive orders—such as attempts to end birthright citizenship or dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion programs—has created confusion about his true priorities and the practical implications of his actions. These moves often seem designed to provoke rather than provide clear policy direction, leaving even supporters unsure of the end goals.
Disavowing, Then Enacting Radical Agendas: Trump has at times publicly disavowed unpopular or extreme policy blueprints (like Project 2025) only to later implement similar measures once in office, leading to confusion about his real intentions and trustworthiness.
Rhetoric vs. Reality: Many supporters have noted the gap between Trump’s statements and what he actually does, or between his promises and outcomes. This contradiction—where supporters “take him seriously, but not literally”—creates ongoing uncertainty and debate within his base about what he truly stands for and what he will ultimately do6 7.

How are Trump’s MAGA faithful able to stay true to the cause if Mr. Trump continues to say and do things like these that defy common sense and raise questions about the state of his mind? It may be helpful for them to know that President Trump’s attitudes and behaviors are driven by his many fears and anxieties. Therefore, to understand why Trump does what he does, it is first necessary to understand the psychology and science of fear.

Research shows that fear can significantly impair rational thinking and decision-making. When people are afraid, their brains often shift into "protection mode," which focuses on immediate threats and self-preservation rather than balanced, logical evaluation of their environment. This can lead to impulsive decisions, tunnel vision, and difficulty distinguishing between real and perceived dangers. This condition is especially problematic when the person possessed by fear is a political leader.

Fear is an adaptive emotion meant to protect us — not hurt others. Fear tends to activate the more primitive parts of the brain, reducing the influence of the rational, analytical regions and making individuals more susceptible to emotional and irrational beliefs. However, when obsessive fears drive decisions made by powerful people like Donald Trump, their decisions can be irrational and harmful to people they should be protecting (including MAGA faithful). Moreover, when he says and does things that raise doubt in his followers, he runs the risk of losing their support. That in itself is not logical.

People who sincerely want to understand why President Trump does what he does would do well to check out the following links:

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Watch for future posts of Make America Better

Here are the working titles of future posts

Why it is Important to Understand Why President Trump Does What He Does
Overview of President Trump’s Relationship with Fear
Examples of Trump’s Fears

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Author’s Disclosures

I acknowledge that I utilized Perplexity AI as a resource for gathering information, clarifying complex topics, and ensuring the accuracy and depth of analyses in this Substack post. While most of the content is my original work, some of the Perplexity content has been reprinted verbatim and some has been edited and formatted by me.

Paul Borene

Make America Better