Ted Cruz knew. Rand Paul knew. Nikki Haley knew. Marco Rubio knew. Kellyanne Conway knew. Mike Pompeo knew. Glenn Beck knew. Rick Perry knew. Susan Collins knew.
Cult-like devotion to a leader who promises that he alone can return the nation to former strength and glory by violently purging it from a host of globalist, leftist enemies and restoring the rule of the *real* people.
Is there a term that succinctly captures this phenomenon?
Exactly! And this is out of fascist playbook. He is incapable of distinguishing between himself, the nation & the people and he thinks his (legal) demise means (or should mean) end of civility for all. In fascism, violence is logical consequence of this apocalyptic mindset