Steven Hassan, PhD
@CultExpert • 73,727 subscribers
World-renowned cult expert, NYT Best Selling author, and creator of the BITE Model and Influence Continuum. Bsky is @cultexpert.freedomofmind.com
Videos
The Cult of Trump is far more than a cult of personality. I was in the Moonies, I was deprogrammed in 1976, and I’ve spent 50 years studying cults. I wrote The Cult of Trump, Combating Cult Mind Control, and Freedom of Mind on how to help people get out of cults. I keep seeing articles use "the Cult of Trump", sometimes in the headline, but then describe it simply as a cult of personality. A cult of personality is when a leader is venerated as if they were godlike, and that certainly applies to Donald Trump, especially among Christian Nationalists who have been programmed to believe God has chosen him to be their agent. But my thesis in The Cult of Trump, and my current thinking, is that this misses the larger structure around him. It ignores the pyramid structure and the puppet masters over Donald Trump, like Putin, Opus Dei, and others that I discuss in The Cult of Trump. It also ignores the fact that there are many authoritarian cults bringing millions of followers to believe in Trump, vote for him, campaign for him, and give money to him. That’s why I think it’s dangerous to reduce this to just a "cult of personality." It can make people wrongly believe that once Trump is out of office, or once he dies, the cult disappears. Not true. This is a structure that has been built and is being funded by Tech billionaires, libertarians, Nazis, Christian Nationalists, tech bros, and others who want power for themselves. That’s why I want people to understand my Influence Continuum and my BITE Model of Authoritarian Control. We are dealing with the Cult of Trump, yes, but it is far more than a cult of personality. Do you think people underestimate the wider structure around Trump when they call it simply a cult of personality?
Steven Hassan, PhD17,502 Aufrufe • vor 12 Tagen
“He’s a dictator. He’s a dictator. Maybe we like a dictator. I don’t like a dictator. I’m not a dictator. I’m a man with great common sense.” That’s Trump speaking. Confusing, contradictory, repetitive - and highly strategic. As an expert in NLP, hypnosis, and cult mind control, I can tell you what this is: a confusion technique. It’s meant to overwhelm your ability to make sense of his words so that your brain goes inside, into a kind of trance. This is a neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) technique. The meaning isn’t in what’s said: it’s in the response it gets. And Trump is very practiced in using language to elicit emotional responses, plant ideas, and override critical thought. Repeating lies over and over makes the brain start accepting them as truth. That’s how indoctrination works. That’s what Hitler did. How authoritarian cult leaders operate. And that’s how Trump is conditioning the public right now. I encourage you to pay attention! Name it. Talk about it. Explain this to your friends and family so they can learn about this mind control technique too! Video credit: CNN
Steven Hassan, PhD174,938 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr
Peter Thiel is giving secret, unrecorded, expensive lectures on “the Antichrist.” And he’s using an old influence tactic to do it: scarcity. In addition, he was quoted as saying, "If you really want to terrify people, you have to do it through religion." Now he’s recruiting libertarians and Silicon Valley elites into a cult called Acts 17, “Acknowledging Christ within Technology and Society.” It’s led by Michelle Stephens (husband Trae founded AI weapons company Anduril) backed by people like the former CEO of Intel, Patrick Gelsinger and the Chief Exec of Y Combinator, Garry Tan. Thiel is flipping the script, blaming people who want AI regulation and climate change scientists and activists as the antichrist, while preaching a future where AI gods rule us and people’s psyches are downloaded into android bodies to live forever. It’s weird. It’s twisted. But it’s happening. There’s a billionaire conspiracy, rooted in religion, and it’s being used to recruit others into an apocalyptic vision. Have you heard about this?
Steven Hassan, PhD132,929 Aufrufe • vor 11 Monaten
Trump is now hinting he may commute Ghislaine Maxwell’s trafficking conviction, while she continues to receive unusually privileged treatment in a so-called low-security facility. Meanwhile, Virginia Giuffre’s new 60 Minutes Australia interview is one of the most important things you can watch right now. It’s heartbreaking, it’s honest, and it shows exactly how these systems of abuse actually work: recruitment chains, coercion, minors being targeted, and a structure that looks far more like a multi-level manipulation network than anything else. If you ever cared about protecting children, confronting trafficking, or understanding how predators operate, watch the interview from start to finish. Sex trafficking is a hundred-billion-dollar industry. Survivors deserve to be believed. Perpetrators deserve to be held fully accountable. And no politician, Trump included, should be able to distort the narrative or shield those involved (including themselves!!). We need transparency. We need justice. And we cannot let MAGA or the GOP bury these realities. What do you think? Put your comments below. Video Credit: YouTube - 60 Minutes Australia: Exposing Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking empire | 60 Minutes Australia
Steven Hassan, PhD113,776 Aufrufe • vor 10 Monaten
"Pay your tithing - even if it means your family doesn’t eat.” This isn’t spiritual. It’s coercion. In high-control groups, followers are taught that obedience to leadership matters more than personal well-being—even when it causes harm! As someone who’s helped people recover from cultic systems for nearly 50 years, I’ve seen how devastating this kind of indoctrination can be. It’s not about “faith.” It’s about control masked as devotion. Healthy spiritual communities should support conscience, not override it. What’s your take on this clip? Let’s have a real conversation in the comments.
Steven Hassan, PhD136,976 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr
Trump’s latest animation stunt isn’t just childish, it reveals exactly who he is. He previously released a video of himself flying a plane and dumping sh*t on people, while putting the Obamas and other public figures on animal bodies. First, his team claimed a staffer made it, but then Trump publicly took credit and refused to apologize. This behavior isn’t funny. It’s not “owning the libs.” It’s another example of his long, well-documented racist background and his pattern of demeaning others for sport. As an American, I’m disgusted and embarrassed, and I want to be clear to the world: this is not normal presidential behavior. This is the behavior of a malignant narcissist and a cult leader who is not psychologically fit for duty. What do you think about Trump releasing something like this? Put your comments below. Video credit: Daily Mail
Steven Hassan, PhD68,874 Aufrufe • vor 7 Monaten
One of the strongest warning signs I look for when evaluating a potential cult leader is the narcissist's need for constant praise, admiration, and validation. In my work studying undue influence and cult dynamics, I’ve seen how cult leader tactics often create an environment in which the leader must always be seen as right, powerful, and above criticism. Trump’s public behavior regarding praise and loyalty aligns with broader patterns found in high-control groups and cults of personality. Understanding these patterns isn’t about blindly following a label; it’s about learning how influence works, how manipulation happens, and how we can protect ourselves from undue influence. Video credit: CNN Fox News @raisedinpennsylvania Tovia Media reema.news
Steven Hassan, PhD23,798 Aufrufe • vor 2 Monaten
Telling your MAGA family member that you hate who they’ve become doesn’t bring them back, it pushes them further away. When you accuse someone of changing, or tell them what they’re feeling, you aren’t speaking to their authentic self anymore. You’re speaking to their cult identity, and that part only gets more defensive when challenged. What actually works is asking questions. Bring them back to memories of who they were before they were recruited. Help them reconnect with the parts of themselves that existed long before the anger and the rhetoric. That’s how you get past the ideology and reach the human being underneath. The goal is to move past the ideology to an emotional state of connection and meaning. That’s where real conversations and real openings happen. Have you tried asking questions instead of pushing back? If yes, what happened?
Steven Hassan, PhD67,853 Aufrufe • vor 9 Monaten
Trump joked that if war breaks out, we wouldn’t be able to have an election. But that’s not just a throwaway line. When Putin took power in Russia, he bombed his own people, blamed it on the Chechens, and used it to consolidate control. That’s called a false flag. Trump knows that playbook. As I’ve said before, this is a man who doesn’t want to lose power. And if he has it his way, he never will. So no, this “joke” isn’t funny. It’s a warning. What do you make of it? Video credit: Daily Mail
Steven Hassan, PhD77,360 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr
Talking to a Trump supporter or someone under undue influence? Here’s what NOT to say if you want to reconnect. Confronting a loved one head-on about their beliefs, attacking their leader, or presenting facts aggressively can backfire. Instead, approach with patience, empathy, and an open mind. Remember, it’s not about winning an argument—it’s about helping them feel safe enough and empowering them to think for themselves. Re-engage family and friends by sharing positive memories, listening actively, and focusing on understanding over judgment. Small, kind and compassionate gestures can lower defenses and open doors for real conversation. Have you tried any of these techniques to bridge the gap between you and a loved one who is in a high-control group or relationship? If comfortable, share your experiences below!
Steven Hassan, PhD89,036 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr
Trump’s approval rating is collapsing, and we’re now seeing the effects even in deep-red local news. When nearly 70% of Americans disapprove of his handling of the economy, the frustration spills out in protests, public comments, and community action. Even places that once gave Trump overwhelming support are showing people are upset. People are waking up to his mental deterioration, the nonstop rants, and the chaos surrounding the Epstein files, foreign policy threats, and blocked healthcare extensions. These aren’t small issues. They’re piling up, and Americans across the country are getting fed up. We are living through a moment where disillusionment is spreading faster than the political establishment seems to realize. Are you witnessing this shift in your area? Have people around you started to change their views on Trump?
Steven Hassan, PhD43,296 Aufrufe • vor 9 Monaten
This is exactly why the public needs to be aware of manipulation tactics and resist the Trump administration! What stands out to me about Andrew Tate is not just the allegations surrounding him, but the methods reportedly used to recruit, influence, and control followers. Like NLP and hypnosis! My work is used by experts in sex and labor trafficking! Cults don't just target vulnerable people. They often use sophisticated influence techniques that appeal to identity, belonging, status, fear, and aspiration. Young men and women can become drawn into these systems without fully understanding how they're being manipulated. It's important to examine the broader ecosystem that allows figures like Tate to gain influence, including the overlap between online radicalization, conspiracy culture, and political movements surrounding Trump. When we fail to recognize the warning signs of cult dynamics, exploitation can flourish. Most importantly, my heart is with the victims and survivors. We need to keep educating ourselves about coercion, manipulation, and mind control so we can better protect people from those who seek to exploit them. What do you think? Why do you think figures like Andrew Tate continue to attract followers despite so many warning signs? Footage from TL BC NOT TT :((((((.l.hunt
Steven Hassan, PhD17,893 Aufrufe • vor 3 Monaten
The allegations against the Tate brothers are not just about illegal activity. They're about understanding and holding them accountable for their cult that used manipulation, hypnosis, coercion, and exploitation. I've spent years studying trafficking, learning from expert survivors like Carissa Phelps and Rachel Thomas as we developed Endingthe Andrew Tate studied books like Pimpology! These techniques align with well-known cult tactics. From the use of hypnosis and psychological manipulation to teaching others how to groom and control vulnerable people, these are patterns we've seen repeatedly in destructive groups. The more we understand undue influence, the better equipped we are to recognize manipulation before it takes hold. Cults and traffickers don't rely on force alone. They rely on psychological conditioning, deception, and systematic control. That's why education is one of our strongest defenses. I've worked with trafficking survivors for years, and I believe it's essential that we continue exposing these tactics so fewer people become victims. What do you think? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments. Video Credit: CNN
Steven Hassan, PhD13,301 Aufrufe • vor 2 Monaten
Most people go into political conversations with their MAGA family ready for a debate. But debate is the fastest way to push someone deeper into the movement. There is a better way. When you attack Trump, the person you love does not hear a factual critique. Their cult identity gets activated. They become defensive, shut down, or cut off the conversation entirely. That is why logical arguments backfire. The more you push, the more they retreat into the group. What works is the opposite of what most people instinctively do. Instead of arguing, you shift into curiosity. You validate feelings. You ask questions that help surface the person’s own internal doubts. When you stop trying to win and start trying to understand, their authentic self begins to show up. That is the part of them capable of thinking freely. Everyone in a mind control system has doubts. Your job is to create the safety that allows those doubts to come forward. This approach is not about surrendering your values. It is about preserving the connection so the person you love has a real pathway out. Patience, empathy, and strategic questions will always outperform confrontation. What helps you stay calm and connected in these conversations?
Steven Hassan, PhD37,624 Aufrufe • vor 9 Monaten
Trump plastering his face on the Department of Justice isn’t “making America safe again”, it’s a warning sign. The DOJ has always been an independent institution, not a tool for punishing critics or serving a president’s personal grievances. Kaitlan Collins’ reporting shows Trump putting a giant image of himself on other federal buildings too. It immediately reminded me of North Korea, where dictator Kim's image appears everywhere. And while he pushes this propaganda that he's "making America safe again", he's also moving battleships and aircraft carriers toward Iran, ICE continues to victimize people, and warehouses are being bought up to detain human beings in conditions that resemble concentration camps. None of this is about safety. It’s about control. We don’t want Big Brother, and we certainly don’t need Donald Trump’s face on our institutions. What do you think about this shift in how our federal agencies are being used? Video Credit: Kaitlan Collins CNN
Steven Hassan, PhD29,592 Aufrufe • vor 7 Monaten
Elon Musk’s huge social media platform X (Twitter) is a plague. Musk's latest behavior is a masterclass in projection, and John Oliver nailed it. I watched John Oliver’s entire show, and it was absolutely brilliant. He broke down how the algorithms have shifted, creating a massive right-wing bias in the feed after years of people claiming it leaned left and would lead to “civilizational collapse.” What I wrote in The Cult of Trump still applies: authoritarian malignant narcissists always project their own darkness onto others. It’s always a black-and-white, us-versus-them frame... We’re good, they’re evil, and the liberals are destroying everything. But look at what’s actually happening in the United States since Donald Trump took power, and since Elon Musk went in and stole our personal data to be used allegedly for Grok. A whistleblower even said it was uploaded to a Russian IP. What do you think? Drop your thoughts below. Video credit: Last Week Tonight
Steven Hassan, PhD27,515 Aufrufe • vor 7 Monaten
One of the clearest cult leader tactics is the relentless attack on critics. Trump insulting, belittling, and attacking reporters simply for asking questions isn't just about personality or political style. It's a pattern I've seen repeatedly in authoritarian cult leaders over the past 50 years. Healthy leaders welcome accountability. Authoritarian leaders often attack the messenger. By humiliating critics in public, they send a powerful message to everyone watching: "Don't question me." That creates fear, discourages dissent, and reinforces loyalty among followers. It's a classic form of undue influence. Understanding these psychological tactics isn't about left versus right. It's about recognizing how influence works so we can protect ourselves, our families, and America's democratic values. Many people in MAGA don't recognize these patterns because they've been immersed in an information environment that normalizes them. That's why education matters. When we understand authoritarian psychology, we're less vulnerable to manipulation, propaganda, and fear-based messaging. Have you noticed this pattern from Trump before? Video credits: New York Post HuffPost Brut America CBC News Nine.com.au CNN Steven Masuch @aljazeeraenglish NowThis Impact
Steven Hassan, PhD12,129 Aufrufe • vor 2 Monaten