Philosopher Contends Trump's Falsehoods Are Not Lies But Something More Sinister
Throughout his political career, dishonesty has carried little consequence for Donald Trump. He launched his national political ambitions with the birther conspiracy, falsely asserting Barack Obama was not born in the United States, yet this did not hinder his path to securing the 2016 Republican nomination.
His repeated fabrications regarding crowd sizes, electoral results, and even his father's birthplace now scarcely attract media attention. Moreover, public admissions that Trump lies appear to have minimal impact on his standing.
The Ineffectiveness of Fact-Checking Among True Believers
During the 2024 presidential campaign, vice-presidential candidate JD Vance conceded that Trump's story about Haitian immigrants consuming pets in Ohio was entirely fabricated. This confession produced no noticeable dent in Trump's popularity. In fact, some polling suggests his supporters actually admire his propensity for untruthfulness.
Recently, however, a shift has emerged. Data indicates growing regret and disappointment within Trump's core base. Failures in the administration's messaging concerning the Iran conflict, the Epstein files, tariffs, and inflation have left some supporters feeling deceived and forsaken. The president's declining approval ratings reflect this changing sentiment.
This might imply that persistent fact-checking efforts are finally yielding results. Yet, from the perspective of a philosopher examining the cognitive and emotional dimensions of citizenship, this interpretation is flawed. A more compelling explanation exists for why Trump's followers are now reacting negatively to his pronouncements.
When False Statements Transcend Traditional Lying
While fact-checking can establish truth among undecided individuals, it often proves futile with committed believers. Challenging a firmly held conviction can backfire, reinforcing the original mistaken belief. To understand the evolving disillusionment among Trump's base, we must look beyond conventional notions of lying.
Specifically, it requires abandoning the assumption that Trump's most outrageous false claims are lies at all. Defining lying is surprisingly complex. It is not merely uttering falsehoods, as honest mistakes do not constitute lies. A common definition involves deliberately asserting something one knows to be false.
However, even this definition encounters problems. A more workable characterization describes lying as speaking with the intent to deceive. Given how easily many of Trump's statements are debunked, it seems improbable his aim is to deceive anyone.
Betrayal Through Expressions of Contempt
No rational person believes Trump has single-handedly stopped eight wars, defeated inflation, reduced gasoline prices below two dollars, secured a deal with the CEO of Sharpie, or achieved unanimous approval for military actions in Iran—all claims he has made. Since he likely does not intend to deceive, he is not lying when he makes such assertions.
Instead, he is engaging in something arguably more damaging. From a political philosophy standpoint, these incredible falsehoods function as a means of demeaning and taunting his detractors. By steadfastly proclaiming unbelievable statements, Trump expresses profound contempt.
He derides the journalistic profession, compelling reporters to cover his absurd claims and thereby indirectly controlling the news cycle. His objective seems not to persuade, but to declare to the media and his opposition, "You cannot stop me." For a political movement founded on draining the Washington swamp, this defiant approach initially proved successful.
The Turning Point: Supporters Feel the Sting of Contempt
The crucial development is that Trump's supporters are now beginning to sense they are also targets of this contempt. His recent assertions that grocery prices are declining, his tariffs are effective, the economy is thriving, and the Iran operation is a minor, already successful excursion are not just obvious falsehoods.
In voicing them, Trump belittles those enduring the realities of a struggling economy and a poorly conceived war. Consequently, the shift among his base stems not from a realization that he lies, but from a feeling of betrayal. They perceive themselves as recipients of the same contempt he has long directed at others, marking a significant erosion of the trust that once fueled his political movement.
