Jackie Speier gets support online as she says Donald Trump has 'all the trappings' of cult leader
WASHINGTON, DC: Former US Representative from California’s 14th District Jackie Speier stated during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that former president Donald Trump has 'all of the trappings' of a cult leader.
Notably, Speier was one of the survivors of the Jonestown massacre that took place on November 18, 1978, killing hundreds of people. She was lucky enough to survive after she was shot five times that day by a gunman sent by Rev Jim Jones.
Who was cult leader Jim Jones?
Jim Jones, originally known as James Warren Jones, was an American mass killer and cult leader who was the leader of the Peoples Temple from 1955 until 1978.
On November 18, 1978, at Jonestown, Guyana, a secluded jungle commune, Jones and the members of his inner circle planned and executed a mass murder-suicide that he called 'revolutionary suicide'.
Notably, society's view of cults has been significantly shaped by Jones and the Jonestown incidents.
Jackie Speier states Donald Trump has 'all of the trappings' of a cult leader
During the interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Speier said that she had stated Donald Trump was a cult leader three years ago and added that he has all the aspects of a cult leader.
She said, "I said he was a cult leader three years ago. He has all the aspects of a cult leader and as for his followers, I was watching a video this morning where someone at a Trump rally said, 'He could kill someone at the White House, and I would still support him'."
She added, "That’s the kind of absolute control that a cult leader somehow mesmerizes followers to follow. He has all of the trappings. He’s charismatic. Some would argue he’s a megalomaniac. He’s paranoid. And all of that makes for a toxic soup that we may be forced to deal with once again."
She further stated that she is 'completely disturbed' by the potential of another four years of Donald Trump.
She said, "I am completely disturbed by the potential of another four years of Donald Trump. I served in Congress during his tenure and thank God we had control of the House during most of that time. I was in the House gallery when January 6 took place. I’m lying on the floor in the gallery and there’s a gunshot that rings out in the Speaker’s lobby."
She added, "And I thought, 'Oh my God, I survived the jungles of Guyana and I’m going to die in this tabernacle of democracy'. I mean, that’s how close I thought we were. And it could have been much worse in terms of bloodshed had more guns been brought into the Capitol."
Internet agrees as Jackie Speier says Donald Trump has 'all of the trappings' of a cult leader
People on the internet took sides with Jackie Speier as she said that former president Donald Trump has 'all of the trappings' of a cult leader.
Some online comments read "Really. Geeze what next? Constant fear tactics. It's all they have. And it will get much worse the next 5 months," and "Every voter needs to be reminded of Trump's promises last time he was running: He promised to cut the deficit. He added $8T. He promised to build a wall. He only did 458 miles out of 2,000. Most of it was repair or replacement, not new."
A user wrote, "And if this doesn't scare you 40 out of 44 prior Trump administration members refuse to endorse him. Pretty obvious," while one added, "I believe that Trumps followers are needy, something is missing in their lives. They have a need for a strong influence in their lives, someone to tell them how and what to think."
A person also stated, "If you think she's exaggerating look at January 6th. Thousands of people, most with no criminal record, committed felonies and have and are spending years in prison BECAUSE OF A LIE."
This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.
