Trump is ignorant, arrogant, authoritarian, sexist, a compulsive liar, anti-science, a pathological narcissist and his personality is immature and obnoxious. He has not done anything good as President, but has caused much harm. He plays the buffoon and it is normal for him to say stupid things. Yet despite everything, millions of Americans want to vote for him. Even stranger is that a proportion of his supporters have something like a religious belief in the man. As far as they are concerned, Trump cannot do or say anything bad. Trump himself has said he could shoot someone in the street and remain popular. How can this be?
Trump is a populist politician, much like Mussolini and Hitler. Like them, he successfully impersonates greatness. Like the other two, Trump is seen by many as a strongman with a historical destiny to make his country great. People surrender their critical faculties, believing such leaders are potent and wise, capable of solving the country's problems.
How is it possible that in the 21st century Trump can fool millions of Americans? There are various reasons. One is that many Americans use social media as a source of news. Then there is Murdoch, doing his best to bolster the extreme right. Another reason is that Trump is an ordinary man, with whom many Americans can identify. He is folksy and shoots from the hip, giving simplistic answers to complex problems. It helps that he breaks all the rules of the political establishment. Trump's genius is to both express and inflame the fears, the anger, the nationalism and the xenophobia of many Americans. Another factor is that Christianity in the US is a potent force for conservatism and the extreme right. In addition, in the US, image is more important than reality, and Trump is a master player in this regard.
Individualism is the social norm in the US and winners are idolised, regardless of whether they win by fair means or foul. There is an uncritical admiration for those who wield power. Trump's supporters are not concerned that he is a tax avoider or that he asks people to break the law, eg by voting twice.
The degradation of American culture, together with sharp political polarisation and false news have allowed a zero like Trump to become the most powerful man in the world.