Trump symptomizes rather than causes post-truth

Evidence

Although it may seem alien and perplexing, the phenomenon of post-truth is neither opaque nor impenetrable. Yet neither is it so simple that it can be understood in a single word: Trump. In a world in which politicians can challenge the facts and pay no political price whatsoever, post-truth is bigger than any one person. It exists in us as well as our leaders. And the forces behind it have been building up for quite some time. This is why I believe that we have our best shot at understanding post-truth by exploring the factors that led up to it. Although the Brexit vote and the US presidential election may seem inextricably tied up with post-truth, neither was the cause of it—they were the result. — Lee McIntyre, Post-Truth, 53

Categorization

• XREF: Resonates with analyses distinguishing a culture of lying from any single demagogue, and with the populist-epistemics literature. — connects to: The term post-truth entered public discourse through 2016’s Brexit and US election — Lee McIntyre, Post-Truth, 23; Brexit and Trump’s election resulted from rather than caused post-truth — Lee McIntyre, Post-Truth, 53; Trump’s rise was symptomatic of a preexisting militant evangelical worldview — Kristin Kobes Du Mez, Jesus and John Wayne: How White…, 9

Broader Connections

• Brexit and Trump’s election resulted from rather than caused post-truth #corroborates (1.00) — Lee McIntyre, Post-Truth, 53
• Trump’s rise was symptomatic of a preexisting militant evangelical worldview #corroborates (0.75) — Kristin Kobes Du Mez, Jesus and John Wayne, 9