To the editor:

Ex-Fox News Editor Chris Stirewalt laments in his new book that viewers would’ve been better prepared for Trump’s election loss if Fox had provided factual lead-up information. But Mr. Stirewalt doesn’t understand that Trump’s fan club isn’t interested in reality; political or otherwise. I see their addiction to Trump as personality worship, which has nothing to do with academia-accredited knowledge of economics, history, law or our government.

Trump’s fan club admires his rule breaking. He’s a defiant guy with a rebellious streak. No one tells him what to do. He aggressively outsmarts everybody and breaks the laws knowing he’ll be protected by his unethical lawyers.

Trump’s fan club goes to his rallies for entertainment, not political content. They’re amused by his bullying. Trump rakes in the dough, enjoys their adoration and gets them riled up; as any showman does.

Nowhere was the Trump fan club’s obsession with personality more evident than when life-long Republican Liz Cheney was rejected in the Wyoming GOP primary. They refused to face the reality of sworn testimony, rule of law or Cheney’s constitutional oath to office. They were only fixated on superficial adoration of Trump; not grounded politics.

Not taking realism into account, his fans actually imagine that this self-centered, high-life millionaire flaunting his former porn-model wife cares about them beyond their vote. But Trumpism does fulfill a tribal instinct of wanting to feel included. His fan club enjoys getting attention and belonging to a group. They’ll treasure Trump souvenir paraphernalia for years to come.

Martha Hodges

Massena