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BIDDEFORD, Maine

David Smith quoted in β€˜Quartz’ article on the psychology of Trump supporters

David Livingstone Smith
David Livingstone Smith

David Livingstone Smith, Ph.D., professor of philosophy, was quoted in an article for Quartz, a digital news outlet. The article, titled β€œInside the Trump machine: the bizarre psychology of America’s newest political movement,” investigates how Trump has gained great popularity despite defying the rules of electoral politics and civil discourse.

As Smith notes, β€œThe interesting thing about Trump is although he is very rich, people feel a kind of class kinship with himβ€”in other words, he’s not an elite. He speaks in a way that resonates with a certain sort of person.”

Smith continues, stating β€œThere are certain things he can say that everyone really believes that the other politicians can’t sayβ€”for instance β€˜I played the game, I gave money to these politicians to get them to do what I want.’” He explains that β€œNone of the other politicians can say that. I think that really resonates. They feel something profoundly authentic about Trump.”

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