There’s a difference between patriotism and blind allegiance. One requires critical thinking, a love for democratic principles, and a willingness to hold power accountable. The other requires a red hat.
Let’s not beat around the bush: the “Red Hat Gang”—the collective of ultra-loyal Trump supporters who don the MAGA cap like a religious relic—has morphed into something well beyond political support. It’s become a cult.
And here’s the kicker: it’s a cult that claims to stand for both “Christian values” and Donald Trump’s brand of politics. That, in itself, is a paradox worth unpacking.
The Cult Checklist
Let’s look at the markers of a cult. A charismatic leader who is beyond criticism? Check. An in-group/out-group mentality that vilifies dissenters and excommunicates moderates? Check. A penchant for rewriting history, distorting truth, and demanding absolute loyalty? Triple check.
The MAGA movement—or rather, the Red Hat Gang—is fueled not by policy debates or political theory, but by emotion: fear, resentment, grievance. And like any good cult, it requires its members to swallow increasingly outrageous claims without question. Stolen election? Sure. Divine appointment by God? Why not. Trial indictments? Just more persecution, obviously.
The Christianity Conundrum
Now here’s where it gets bizarre. This same group wraps itself in the language of Christianity, holding prayer circles
before rallies and claiming divine endorsement for Trump’s every action. But the values they espouse—xenophobia, cruelty to migrants, revenge politics, and a constant thirst for power—run counter to the teachings of Christ.
Jesus talked about loving your neighbor, helping the poor, and turning the other cheek. He didn’t say “build a wall” or “lock her up.” He never held up a Bible as a prop, nor did he brag about grabbing women or defrauding others. Yet the Red Hat Gang continues to chant Trump’s name louder than they do Jesus’s.
Christianity has long been co-opted by political movements, but the MAGA brand has taken it to a dangerous new level—weaponizing faith to shield authoritarianism and disguise it as righteousness.
When Politics Becomes Religion
What we’re witnessing is the merging of political identity and spiritual identity, where questioning Trump is seen as heresy, and pledging loyalty to him is treated like a conversion ritual. That’s not patriotism. That’s not faith. That’s idolatry.
It’s one thing to support a candidate. It’s another to believe he’s the chosen one, immune to facts, laws, or morality. When a red hat becomes a symbol of salvation instead of just an accessory, it’s time to step back and ask: what are we really worshiping?
Final Thought
The Red Hat Gang isn’t just a political movement anymore. It’s a cult masquerading as a crusade. And its unholy mix of MAGA fervor and misappropriated Christianity is not only hypocritical—it’s dangerous. If we don’t call it out for what it is, we risk watching faith, democracy, and truth be sacrificed at the altar of a man who never deserved either crown.
