Wild to see literally anything cause his base to lose faith in him. He's done every morally reprehensible thing imaginable, but this is what gets them foaming at the mouth? Dude was bragging about being a rapist before he was even president for a single second, and his associations with Epstein have been well-documented for years, but now this is a bridge too far? I guess we all have to draw a line somewhere, but man...Trump's refusal to disclose feels like just another Tuesday in Trumpland, for anyone who actually follows the news.
this post was submitted on 18 Jul 2025
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In a way, it's extremely surprising. I agree that it seems wild for this to be what takes down the house of cards.
On the other hand, trying to think of it through the lens of someone already living within the conspiracism bubble, I do think this issue is notably different. Bragging about being a rapist is just how they talk, because they explicitly endorse sexism. That's just "boys being boys" and whatnot. Unity is necessary to impose a collective will, so some level of bad behavior is excusable so long as you're towing the party line. But they spent far too long mysticizing and building up the epstein files and importantly it reflected a value that they collectively held - to protect the children. For something which was so central to their conspiracist theorems (just like the deep state, except in this case it was a plausibly real thing) to be discarded so wantonly like this without a clear and plausible explanation which maintains their theories (even Alex Jones couldn't resolve his cognitive dissonance on this entirely... is Trump actually a deep state actor?!)? Well that is a difficult pill to swallow.
Maybe someone will be creative enough to weave a story which both explains and allows them to continue to press on with their core beliefs of a global elite running the world and them fighting back against it but somehow Trump not being part of said cabal and instead acting on their behalf. If that happens, I'm sure it'll spread like wildfire among them because it'll help them suspend their disbelief. One can simply hope they implode upon themselves because right now things are looking exceptionally bleak for the US not nose-diving directly into fascism and being at the center of WW3 and a Nazi 2.0 movement
I am always honored to get your extremely thoughtful replies. I think you're right, it's kind of a case of the lies catching up to them. They built up the files as this white whale and then Trump punted on the chance to release them. I guess I'm just surprised to see allies like MTG turn on Trump. I kind of wonder what is happening behind the scenes to fuel that break in rank, because so far they have been pretty eager to lockstep with Trump for political gain. Is something happening in the realpolitik space that we don't yet know about?
I think it's probably much more mundane; they simply see an opening so they're going to throw him under the bus so they can be the next king.
truuuuue. we love to see fascists fucking around and finding out why the Sith had a Rule of Two.
But they spent far too long mysticizing and building up the epstein files and importantly it reflected a value that they collectively held - to protect the children.
This is the part that mind boggles me. I think the issue is that I keep thinking with broad strokes rather than MAGA as sub groups.
Generally speaking, I don't think Maga cares about children overall, but some must.
-Education cuts
-school lunch cuts
-People against "hand outs" like food stamps
-The general American Healthcare system
-People who are anti abortion who then don't support adoption or who wouldn't adopt a child themselves etc.
I just find it so weird that this is the line they draw when Trump has been so outwardly creepy for decades.
*sorry for my shitty mobile formatting