This video opened my eyes to something crucial: the rise of Trumpism wasn’t just about politics—it was about a deep, festering wound in American society. The speaker in the video, Oliver Anthony, describes a world where hardworking, everyday people—the so-called “nobodies”—feel ignored, disrespected, and left behind. It explains, in stark and painful detail, how millions of Americans became susceptible to Trump’s propaganda.
This wasn’t just about conservative ideology or even dissatisfaction with the status quo. It was about desperation. About betrayal. About a population that had been overlooked for so long that when someone came along and told them, I see you, they were ready to believe anything else he said.
Trump didn’t create their problems. He didn’t cause their suffering. But he saw it—and he used it. He weaponized their struggles, redirected their rage, and convinced them that he alone could fix it.
Here’s how it happened:
1. The Forgotten Workers and the Rise of the “Nobodies”
Anthony describes an overwhelming number of people reaching out, calling themselves “nobodies”—people drowning in addiction, financial hardship, and mental illness, feeling invisible to the world. These are the people who fuel our economy, do the hard labor, and keep society running, yet receive no recognition. They are desperate for someone to acknowledge their worth.
Trump saw this. He told them they mattered. He painted himself as their champion, the only leader who gave a damn about the working class. And for many, that was enough.
2. Distrust of Elites and Institutional Rot
While everyday Americans toiled, the media, politicians, and celebrities seemed to live in a different world—one of comfort, ease, and self-indulgence. Anthony also calls out how society idolizes influencers and politicians who contribute nothing, while the real backbone of America gets nothing in return.
Trump played this perfectly. He positioned himself as an outsider, an enemy of the establishment. He turned their anger into a war cry: The system is rigged against you, and only I can fix it.
3. The Digital Addiction That Warped Reality
The speaker highlights a terrifying reality: we are a society drowning in screens. Teenagers spend 30,000 hours on social media by the time they turn 30. Adults spend up to nine hours a day staring at devices. Our minds are shaped by algorithms that tell us what to think, what to believe, and who to hate.
Trump’s campaign was the ultimate digital experiment. He exploited these algorithms, using rage, controversy, and disinformation to dominate the conversation. His supporters didn’t just choose to believe the lies—they were fed them, over and over again, by the very technology that dictates our reality.
4. Government Incompetence and the Rise of Self-Reliance
Anthony recalls how, during catastrophic floods in North Carolina, the government was largely useless. FEMA hoarded supplies, politicians staged photo ops, and bureaucracies failed. Meanwhile, it was volunteers—ordinary people—who stepped up to save lives.
This resonated deeply with Trump’s base. He didn’t need to prove government was failing—they had already lived it. He simply pointed to the dysfunction and said, See? I told you so. Then, he promised he would be different.
5. The Search for Meaning and the Appeal of Tribalism
The more time people spend online, Anthony argues, the more they are forced into ideological tribes. The internet doesn’t just inform—it divides, commodifies, and radicalizes. And when people feel abandoned by the real world, they seek belonging in digital communities that reinforce their beliefs.
Trump’s movement gave people that sense of belonging. His rallies were churches. His followers were family. He offered them an identity, a mission, a purpose: Take America Back. And once they belonged, they couldn’t leave.
6. The Illusion of a Savior
At the heart of it all was Trump’s biggest con: convincing his supporters that he was their only hope. He wasn’t a politician—he was their warrior. Their martyr. Their last chance to be seen, heard, and valued.
The truth? He exploited them. He took their suffering and turned it into his power. He built a cult of personality around their pain, convinced them to reject facts, and led them into battle—not for their own benefit, but for his.
What Comes Next?
The MAGA movement wasn’t built on policy. It was built on pain. The people who fell for Trump’s con weren’t stupid—they were desperate. And until America addresses the real issues that made them so vulnerable, they will always be looking for another savior.
Trump saw the cracks in our society and pried them open. The question now is: Will we fix them? Or will we let someone else come along and do it all over again?
This is a conversation we need to have. If you found this perspective valuable, share it. Because understanding how we got here is the first step to making sure it never happens again.
