ABSTRACT
This chapter suggests that Trump’s slogan “Make America Great Again” symbolizes and embodies a fundamental and central aspect of his appeal to the nation. The success of his movement is seen as primarily the latest manifestation of American Exceptionalism with its glorification of nationalistic and militaristic patriotism that has aspects of a secular religion and is accompanied by a sense of superiority with respect to the other denizens of our planet. The history of American Exceptionalism is briefly examined and the current Trumpian moment is viewed as an expression of long-standing political currents that have been a central aspect of American identity throughout the course of its history.
