The Roots of Trump Support and Resistance to Election Results

A common question in the post-election landscape is why Trump supporters refuse to accept the 2020 election results. This article seeks to understand and explain the underlying reasons and parallels drawn from historical events.

A Call for a Comprehensive Investigation

Critics often demand a thorough investigation to validate the election results, arguing that:

The survey results are contrived The winner, Joe Biden, is perceived as an incompetence who gave tax breaks to the rich and repealed environmental laws

Opposition to the results extends beyond just the results. Some argue that the loss was due to:

The 2020 presidential candidate, Donald Trump, did not win the popular vote Supplying tax cuts to billionaires instead of addressing critical issues Failure to act on the highly contagious and deadly coronavirus, leading to unnecessary deaths

These supporters argue that the chaos of the last four years, including but not limited to, the pandemic response, warrants an explanation. For them, the loss is not just about an election result, but a broader failure to uphold their values and interests.

Seeking Historical Parallels: The Confederate Experience

Interestingly, seeking a historical parallel may help in understanding this phenomenon. In 1864, at the end of the Civil War, the Confederate president, Jefferson Davis, was arrested and imprisoned. Despite the loss, the citizens of the Confederacy did not accept the Union's triumph as legitimate. More than 150 years later, the descendants of Confederate citizens still revere figures like Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee as heroes.

Why do they continue to hold these views? There are several reasons:

Perceived as a fight for their own cause, defending their own culture and social and political standing The admiration stems from viewing these figures as champions who worked to advance their cause and maintain their society's preeminence

Similar to the Confederacy's descendants, Trump supporters see Trump as their champion, a leader who fought to advance their cause and maintain their societal standing. They believe he championed their interests and values, making them feel they were on the right side of the political and cultural struggle.

The Deep South and Trump’s Core Base

The geographic distribution of Trump support is striking. The Deep South, which was historically the territory of the Confederacy, now remains the core base of Trump's support. This is not a coincidence. The region has a long history of cultural and political pride, and Trump's rhetoric mirrored and amplified these sentiments.

For Trump supporters in the Deep South, he is more than just a president; he is a symbol of their identity and cultural heritage. This belief in his cause and leadership extends beyond the election results. They feel that Trump's efforts aligned with their values and provided a counter-narrative to the changes they perceived as harmful to their society.

As a sentiment, Trump may indeed end up being venerated as the second President of the Confederacy, symbolizing the struggle, pride, and resistance of those who feel marginalized and whose culture and way of life are changing.

In summary, the resistance to the 2020 election results, similar to the Confederate experience, stems from a deep-seated perception of a fight for cultural and political standing, led by individuals who have resonated with the values and identities of their supporters. This phenomenon goes beyond just the election and touches on broader issues of identity, pride, and resistance.