EDITORIAL: Trump and MAGA are the REAL beta males

Trump supporters' "alpha male" narrative is a farce

In modern political discourse, there’s an obsession with the concept of the “alpha male” – the embodiment of strength, confidence, and self-assurance. For many Trump supporters, the phrase has become synonymous with their idol, Donald Trump himself. But upon closer examination, it’s clear that the very traits they associate with “alpha males” are absent in both Trump and his base. What we’re witnessing, in reality, is a masterclass in “beta male” behavior, and the irony is staggering.

Let’s begin with Trump himself. The image he has carefully crafted throughout his career is that of a tough, no-nonsense leader. His supporters tout him as a fearless figure who commands respect. Yet, when you look past the rhetoric and examine his actions, a much different picture emerges. Trump is a man who cannot handle criticism, frequently throwing tantrums on Truth Social when faced with even the slightest opposition. His reactions are those of a petulant child, not a man comfortable in his own strength.

During his first presidency, Trump’s inability to accept defeat became one of his defining characteristics. Rather than concede the 2020 election, Trump embarked on a prolonged campaign of denial, spreading false claims about election fraud. Instead of simply accepting the results and moving on, he filed dozens of frivolous lawsuits, incited a violent insurrection, and attempted to overturn the will of the people. This isn’t the behavior of a strong leader. This is the reaction of someone who, faced with the reality of defeat, cannot manage their fragile ego. A true “alpha” doesn’t need to throw a tantrum when things don’t go their way. But Trump did – and continues to do so.

Now, let’s turn our attention to the Republican Party, which, for years, has proclaimed itself the bastion of family values, fiscal responsibility, and a strong foreign policy. But ever since Trump’s rise to power, those principles have been thrown out the window. Rather than standing up to Trump’s erratic behavior, Republican lawmakers have cowered in fear of him and his base. They are terrified of his social media rants, terrified of losing favor with his supporters, and, most importantly, terrified of angering him. This is not strong leadership; it’s a party too afraid to stand on principle because they fear the wrath of a man who can’t even spell correctly in his posts.

This phenomenon is particularly glaring when we examine the Republican Party’s stance on foreign policy. For years, they prided themselves on standing up to dictators and promoting democracy worldwide. But under Trump, they have abandoned those values. The Republican Party, once the champion of freedom and democracy, now finds itself in the uncomfortable position of defending authoritarian regimes. Trump has expressed admiration for dictators like Vladimir Putin, a leader who embodies the very opposite of the democratic ideals the Republican Party once claimed to uphold. Trump’s followers, too, have joined in this embrace of authoritarianism, cheering for strongmen abroad while simultaneously waving flags that proclaim their support for freedom. It’s a bizarre and dangerous contradiction, one that exposes the hollowness of their claims to be “alpha” in the global arena.

In addition to these contradictions, there’s the pervasive victim mentality that runs through Trump’s rhetoric and his supporters. While they love to label the left as “snowflakes” who can’t handle opposing viewpoints, it’s clear that they are, in fact, the ones who can’t handle change. They are terrified of diversity, of minorities, and of anything that challenges their narrow worldview. They rail against “woke culture” while attempting to ban books, silence dissent, and undermine democratic processes. These are not the actions of strong, confident individuals; they are the behaviors of people desperately trying to protect their fragile egos from anything that threatens their sense of control. This victim mentality is a key feature of “beta” behavior – seeking validation and protection rather than embracing strength and resilience.

Finally, let’s address the ultimate “beta” move: blindly following a leader who doesn’t care about them. Trump has spent his entire life exploiting others for personal gain, from dodging taxes to screwing over workers. Yet his supporters treat him as a messianic figure, tying their identities and egos to his success. They’ve staked everything on him, and when he loses, they can’t handle it. Instead of accepting reality, they retreat into conspiracy theories and alternate realities. This desperate need for validation, combined with a refusal to face the truth, is not strength – it’s delusion.

At the end of the day, Trump and his supporters are far from the “alpha males” they claim to be. They are insecure, reactive, and constantly seeking validation from their leader. They try to project an image of strength, but they crumble at the slightest criticism. They speak of freedom, but they cheer for authoritarianism. They talk about winning, but they can never handle losing.

The left, on the other hand, demonstrated true strength in 2024. When Trump won the presidency, many of us didn’t like it, didn’t agree with it, but we accepted it. We didn’t resort to tantrums or conspiracy theories. We moved forward, recognizing the outcome and working toward our goals within the reality we were presented with. That’s true “alpha” behavior – something that Trump and his supporters will never understand.

So, the next time you hear a Trump supporter boasting about being an “alpha male,” remember the truth. The real “betas” are the ones who need a reality TV star to tell them what to think. They are the ones who need validation, who crumble under pressure, and who will never know the true meaning of strength.