People are terrified right now, terrified for their health and the economy, and just generally terrified of all the unknowns, and there are many unknowns right now. For the first time ever for many people they are faced with a situation that is completely out of their hands and out of their control. The natural reaction to this is to either look for someone to blame, or someone we can hold up as our savior. “Trump is terrible he made this all happen and is going to destroy us,” or “Trump is amazing he is going to fix all of this and save us all!” This is actually a very primitive and instinctual survival tactic and if you really strip it away, has nothing to do with politics. This is psychology at its root!
We are unknowingly but instinctually trying to fight the virus that threatens to take us all. On a primitive level, we are trying to gain control in the best way we know. Having an opinion about what is being done right, or what was or is being done wrong gives us the illusion of control. Not to mention that debating politics is a national pastime in the best of circumstances—so these exchanges also give us a much-needed sense of normalcy and mutuality. Since we have no control over this situation what we try to control is our opinions and responses to it. Also, there is an important process operating unconsciously that is implicit in the act of blaming someone or canonizing someone. We are unconsciously trying to bolster and essentially save our mental well-being.
