ABSTRACT
President Donald Trump based his presidency to an extraordinary degree on hostility toward his critics, including the Washington establishment, the Democrats, and the media. He created a cult of personality based on allegiance to him and his brand of caustic politics. He was the ultimate contrarian. And he continued to spread malice following his defeat in the 2020 election as he tried to keep himself popular with angry white working-class voters and Republican die-hards for another presidential run in 2024. By emphasizing the lie that he had really won the 2020 election and that the Democrats stole victory from him, Trump waged war on truth itself.
