Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Sarah Palin mocked for response to being asked if Trump supporters are a cult

‘By jove, she’s GOT it! Apart from the first ‘No’ ... everything else lines up perfectly!’ wrote one Twitter user

Bevan Hurley
Thursday 15 June 2023 07:55 EDT
Comments
Trump takes aim at Biden after 'heinous' federal charges

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Sarah Palin is facing fresh derision after she denied that Donald Trump’s devoted Maga base was a cult — before accurately describing its cult-like characteristics.

Appearing on Newsmax, the former Alaska governor was asked about the scenes at the Versailles Restaurant in Miami where Mr Trump stopped by after pleading not guilty to federal charges of mishandling classified documents on Tuesday.

Newsmax’s John Huddy asked Ms Palin whether the former president’s supporters at the restaurant had engaged in cult-like behaviour.

“No,” she replied. “The definition of a cult is a group of people who are excessively supporting one another and a cause, all about conformity and compliance, and intolerance of anyone who doesn’t agree with what their mission is.”

Ms Palin soon found herself in familiar territory of being mocked by social media users.

“Sarah Palin perfectly describes the Trump cult while denying that Trump World is a cult,” wrote one Ron DeSantis supporter.

Michael Steele, the former RNC chairman, shared footage of a British reporter being called a “traitor” and angrily moved on from the Versailles restaurant after asking Mr Trump if he was ready to go to prison.

“You mean like this?” Mr Steele wrote.

“By jove, she’s GOT it!” Anjali Deodhar wrote. “Apart from the first ‘No’ ... everything else lines up perfectly! Congrats, Sarah!”

Experts have long warned that Mr Trump’s powerful sway over elements of the Republican Party amount to a cult of personality.

“He has become more authoritarian, more outrageous, and yet many of his followers remain blindly devoted,” Steven Hassan wrote in his 2019 book The Cult of Trump: A Leading Cult Expert Explains How the President Uses Mind Control.

After his arraignment on 37 counts of mishandling classified documents on Tuesday, Mr Trump’s motorcade went directly to the Versaille restaurant in a choreographed photo-op where he was doted on by supporters.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in