Here's why MAGA keeps eating up Trump's 'silly lies' about Reflecting Pool: columnist
rawstory.com
Trump's false claims about the Reflecting Pool crowd expose how motivated reasoning turns "silly lies" into tribal loyalty tests for MAGA supporters.
Motivated ReasoningIdentity-Protective CognitionConspiracy Theory PsychologyIn-Group Loyalty
Theory Briefing
- Trump made false claims about the Reflecting Pool, which a columnist calls 'silly lies' that MAGA followers readily accept.
- The outside-saboteurs conspiracy theory surrounding the episode is described as 'painfully' revealing about the MAGA psyche.
- Motivated reasoning explains why followers embrace implausible narratives — belief signals in-group loyalty, not factual agreement.