Why Do Tens of Millions Still Believe Trump Despite Overwhelming Lies?

Why do tens of millions of Americans keep believing Donald Trump even after he has been caught in countless lies, felony convictions, sworn contradictions, and court rulings against him? That’s the question Mitch Jackson posed to a psychiatrist expert witness, and the answer cuts deep into the psychology of Trump’s loyal base.

This is not just politics. It’s identity.

Yale Law professor Dan Kahan’s research shows that when facts threaten a person’s group identity, their brain treats those facts as threats to survival. For a Trump supporter, admitting Trump lied about Stormy Daniels or January 6 means admitting they were wrong for years — risking social exile from family and friends. So they filter out inconvenient truths, not because they’re stupid but because their brains are wired to protect their identity. In fact, the smarter they are, the better they get at rationalizing away facts.

The illusory truth effect also plays a huge role. The more Trump repeats a false claim — like the “rigged election” — the more familiar it becomes, and familiarity feels like truth. Studies confirm this effect is strongest among consumers of right-wing media, where Trump’s repeated falsehoods become accepted reality.

Dr. Steven Hassan’s BITE model, developed from decades studying cults, identifies how authoritarian leaders control followers through Behavior, Information, Thought, and Emotional control. Trump’s use of slogans like “fake news” and “build the wall,” his media ecosystem that filters facts, and rallies that reinforce group identity fit this model disturbingly well. While not every supporter is in a cult, a hard core operates inside this closed loop.

There’s also the sunk cost problem. Psychologists Elliot Aronson and Carol Tavris explain that once people publicly commit to a belief, they rationalize everything to justify that choice. Trump supporters who have lost friendships or alienated family over their loyalty face too high a cost to admit they were duped.

This toxic combination — identity protection, repeated lies, cult-like dynamics, and sunk costs — explains why Trump’s falsehoods persist in the minds of millions. It’s not ignorance. It’s a psychological trap that fuels authoritarian loyalty and undermines democracy itself.

For those fighting for truth and accountability, understanding this dynamic is urgent. The challenge is not just exposing lies but breaking the psychological hold that enables authoritarianism to thrive.