Key Takeaways:
– Trump widely distributed misinformation during his campaign.
– Statistics show positive economic trends contrary to Trump’s claims.
– The media’s hesitation in stating truth, and spreading of lies contributed to misinformation.
– Trump aimed to discredit mainstream media and government statistics.
– Conspiratorial thinking has allowed Trump supporters to dismiss evidence contradicting their beliefs.
– Conspiracism can lead to totalitarianism and prevent logical debates.
Trump’s Misinformation Campaign
In a campaign filled with false claims, Donald Trump found a successful path to the presidency. Each major issue he discussed, from the economy to immigration and abortion, was rooted in fallacies easy to debunk.
A Skewed Version of Current Realities
Contrary to Trump’s dramatic declarations, actual statistics tell a positive story about the economy. We witness a decline in inflation, growth in the economy, fewer illegal border crossings, and a decrease in crime. Further, there’s high vaccine efficacy. Despite changes in the narrative, American companies see tariffs as import taxes, preparing to increase their prices as a result.
But these figures do not matter to Trump’s supporters. Trump built a narrative that enabled them to dismiss facts and focus on resentment.
Fallacies are Appealing to Some
People who harbor delusions were more likely to vote for Trump. An Ipsos poll during the campaign’s final weeks found voters who falsely believed we are in an intense period of violent crime favored Trump.
However, voters aware of the actual, lower crime rate supported Harris by 65 points, and those knowledgeable about the return of the inflation rate to the historical average favored Harris by 53 points.
Bias in the Media
The media significantly contributes to the spread of misinformation. Mainstream media are often hesitant to state the truth. On the other hand, right-wing media and influencers are keen on spreading incorrect information. Social media platforms further fan the flame, employing algorithms that prioritize profits over promoting accurate information.
Creating Personal Reality
The problem is bigger than previously thought. Trump supporters believe mainstream media and the government are controlled by so-called ‘enemies of the people’ and ‘deep state’, respectively. This mindset enables them to reject evidence contradicting their beliefs, helping to create their own version of reality.
Donald Trump systematically tried to discredit the press and government, further strengthening this mindset. When stats showed a crime decrease, Trump baselessly accused the FBI of manufacturing them. Whenever significant data contradicted his claims, he would say they were faked.
This conspiracist mindset has led Trump’s supporters to interpret his many felony convictions as evidence of a plot against him, rather than an indicator of his misconduct.
Warning Signs of Totalitarianism
Social scientists have long warned that conspiracism can lead to totalitarianism. Believing in conspiracy theories steals our ability to have a logical debate. If every evidence contradicting a belief becomes proof of a plot against the believer, rational discourse is impossible.
Concluding Thoughts
There’s a growing interest in rectifying our media ecosystem. However, nothing can be achieved until the conspiracist mindset predisposing people to believe in lies is addressed. It’s crucial for the health of our democracy to value truth and avoid the lure of quick-fix conspiracy theories.