Amidst the chaos of relentless, mind-numbing corruption, lies, and malfeasance by Donald Trump and his administration, Adam Serwer’s brilliant essay reminds us of a common element: “The Cruelty Is the Point.” Serwer argues that Trump and his supporters thrive on cruelty against those “outsiders” who, in their eyes, “deserve it.”. This cruelty binds Trump and his supporters—especially conservative white evangelical Christians—into a community that celebrates Trump’s mockery of others and the punitive actions he takes against various people and groups. It also leads his supporters to ignore or rationalize Trump’s other unethical or illegal activities.
