In moments like this we really have to distinguish the difference between ignorance and stupidity. There are a lot of people that voted for Trump because they are legitimately stupid and believe everything he says without question. But there is another group that, for one reason or another, fell for the grift a second time out of ignorance and genuinely believed he would “drain the swamp.” I understand the immediate desire to say things like “you get what you voted for,” but that aggressive stance is exactly why so many people flocked to Trump in the first place. Calling them stupid and making fun of them is exactly why they flocked to the side the made them feel “special.” Because just like every cult, they convince the ignorant, angry, and confused people to join them by making them feel vilified and righteous.

I’m not saying don’t be angry with them. Your anger is justified and it is cathartic to say “I told you so,” but we should direct our anger towards the cult leader not the victims of the cult. A lot of these people were just angry at all the same things we are angry about. Trump just used it as an opportunity to scoop them up into his cause and promise them the world to take advantage of them (he is a rapist, afterall). I’m sure almost everyone that joins a cult has said at some point they’d never be dumb enough to join a cult.