Why MAGA calls Trump "Daddy"

[marmar]

Why MAGA calls Trump “Daddy”
Yes, it's a weird sex thing. But it also reveals secret insecurities

By Amanda Marcotte
Senior Writer
Published August 18, 2025 6:45AM (EDT)


(Salon) The MAGA movement is determined to make politics as disgusting as possible, destroying democracy one juvenile 4chan meme at a time. It turns out that American fascism isn’t just wrapped in a flag and carrying a cross, but accuses women of having “Arby’s in your pants,” claims immigrants eat people’s pets and peddles conspiracy theories that politicians’ wives are secretly trans. In their mission to gross out normal people, Donald Trump‘s followers, much to his delight, like to call him “Daddy.”

It seemed to have really taken off in October, when Tucker Carlson gave his “Daddy’s home” speech at a Georgia campaign rally. He likened Trump to an abusive father, and compared America to his teenaged victim, all in an unsubtly sexualized way. “When dad gets home, you know what he says? ‘You’ve been a bad girl. You’ve been a bad little girl, and you’re getting a vigorous spanking right now,” Carlson said, as the crowd cheered wildly.

....(snip)....

The “Daddy” meme stuck. Mere days after Trump’s re-election, golfer John Daly went on Fox News to proclaim, “I think our country needs Daddy Trump.” GOP Michigan State Sen. Jonathan Lindsey declared in June that many Americans see “Daddy Trump” as a “father figure.” Most disturbingly, in June, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte affectionately called Trump “Daddy” at the most recent NATO summit. Rutte may have just been trying to flatter the notoriously narcissistic president, but Trump’s team lapped it up with the eagerness of a dog going after beef drippings. His fundraising arm even got in on the act, releasing a T-shirt with his mugshot and the name “Daddy” underneath it. The official White House account posted a video of Trump at the NATO summit set to “Daddy’s Home” by Usher, which was swiftly taken down when the singer issued a copyright claim.

....(snip)....

No doubt a lot of this is sublimated sexuality, which is often the case with a right-wing that outwardly embraces Christian right hostility to most forms of sexual expression. But it is the power dynamic that Carlson invoked — the large man versus the small girl — that really distills why Trump and the MAGA movement are so attracted to this “Daddy” idea. Fascism is a vehicle for weak, insecure people to feel powerful in the most cowardly way possible: By violating and abusing those they believe can’t fight back. It’s the attitude of the rapist and the child abuser, someone who pathetically congratulates himself for being “tough” because of his violence, but who fears taking on someone his own size. No wonder Trump is the perfect avatar for it. ....................(more)

https://www.salon.com/2025/08/18/why-maga-calls-trump-daddy/

[John1956PA]

1. It is a twisted mentality which believes the nation needs a "father figure" for its leader.

[Mysterian]

2. Fascists need their "strong man" leader

Fascists are weak-minded, gullible fools who need a "strong man" to keep them safe from all the evil enemies the propaganda tells tells them about. Like a daddy to keep you safe. They are pathetic.

[CrispyQ]

6. While whining about the "nanny state," the part of the state that takes care of people & keeps us safe.

You know, with regulations like kids can't work past a certain hour, or cars have to pass safety inspections to drive on our roads, or you can't take the food processor lid off while the unit is running. No kidding, I read a recipe sub-thread on social media of women complaining about that, & one actually used the phrase nanny state. I scrolled on but thought—you'll be the first to sue the company if your kid sticks his fingers in there with the blades running.

[sboatcar]

3. Trumpers do kind of hate when you tell them they're all kissing up to daddy though

I think its hilarious

[J_William_Ryan]

4. "Fascism is a vehicle for weak, insecure people to feel powerful in the most cowardly way possible..."

Exactly – a perfect description of Trump and his supporters.

[usonian]

5. He loves children.

Bath time at 4pm, everyone.

[Drum]

7. Mixed messages...

[BoRaGard]

8. well stated

[RedWhiteBlueIsRacist]

9. Hey MAGA, why did "Daddy" cheat on "Mommies" #1, #2, #3 so much?

[IronLionZion]

10. Release the Epstein files

these people are so weird. Dotard's own children turned out pretty terrible so I would question his fathering skills. GOP family values means having 5 children with 3 different women (that we know of).

This one might as well be the Republican Party slogan these days: "the large man versus the small girl"

[Hornedfrog2000]

11. They call him daddy, because

Trump is a pedophile, and he is used to little girls calling him daddy before he molests them

[Marcuse]

12. (!)

[GoCubsGo]

13. Excellent article!

Yup, about a third of the population is governed by their reptilian brain. They're ruled by fear and anxiety, rather that rationality. Anything that's new, "different," or they just don't understand, scares the shit out of them. It's why the GOP's incessant fear-mongering has always worked on them. It's why fundamentalist religion is so prevalent among them, as well. Hold the threat of eternal damnation over their heads, and you can get them to do anything you say.

[KPN]

14. Fitting. He's in fitting company. Idi Amin

was also called Daddy.

[nuxvomica]

15. As I've said before, MAGAs yearn for a return to innocence

They seek that state of personal security that they knew in childhood so of course they need a daddy figure to protect them. But they will never achieve the bliss of innocence because they are misguided into taking what they think is the easy path to it. When humans reach adulthood their only path to that bliss is to protect the innocent and transform the world into a safer place for them. Along the way, they need to face challenges and learn of their own powers to defeat corruption, the opposite of innocence. If they don't, they become "the uninitiated", overaged children enslaved to their own appetites for money, power, status, etc.

[Hornedfrog2000]

16. Because theyre closeted perverts

Thats why. Everything revolves around their pee pees