OPINION Matt Garvin
(Part one of this discussion is here – but this part can be read alone)
Donald Trump was uniquely positioned to tap into the massive societal changes brought about by democratising information and the erosion of traditional power structures.
Trump’s approach to relationships exemplifies this individualistic moment. Known for his transactional style, he builds alliances with those who benefit his goals and distances himself from those who do not.
Unlike many conventional politicians who adhered to established rules of political decorum and relied on traditional media, Trump understood the power of direct, unfiltered communication through platforms like Twitter and alternative media channels.
By bypassing traditional news outlets and speaking directly to people online, Trump tapped into a growing distrust of mainstream institutions and capitalised on the frustrations of those who felt ignored by the elites. His unfiltered style and disregard for convention resonated with people disillusioned with a political class they saw as disconnected from their realities. This approach allowed him to build a robust, loyal base of supporters who felt represented in a way they hadn’t through conventional political channels.
Trump’s appeal lay not only in his messaging but in how he spoke directly to the grievances of people who felt left behind by global and technological shifts. While the economy had been improving statistically, many Americans didn’t feel those gains in their everyday lives. They watched as traditional industries and jobs were replaced or outsourced while technology and a shifting economy rewarded a different, often urban, elite. Trump’s rhetoric about restoring America’s greatness and his promises to bring back jobs to struggling communities struck a chord with those who felt they had been left out of America’s progress. By framing himself as a disruptor willing to fight “the swamp” and put “America First,” Trump symbolised resistance to the changes that his supporters felt had undermined their economic and social standing.
Moreover, Trump’s transactional approach to relationships and politics reflected a shift in society where power and influence were becoming more networked and less tied to traditional hierarchies. He embraced this new reality by aligning with influencers, alternative media personalities, and even conspiracy theorists who operated outside mainstream institutions, using their platforms to amplify his message. By speaking to audiences on YouTube, podcasts, and fringe media, Trump reached groups largely ignored by conventional media outlets.
I was fascinated that when Donald Trump handed the podium to Dana White, the founder of the UFC, the CEO of one of the most popular televised sports in the world, was quick to thank a list of people that many people my age have never heard of: the Nelk Boys, Adin Ross, Theo Vonn, Bussin’ with the Boys, and Joe Rogan. These were all podcasters who had Trump on their shows before the election. There is a whole new media environment that those who still watch free-to-air television or listen to A.M. Radio are barely aware of, yet this “new media” speaks to millions more people than traditional media ever did. By way of comparison, Fox News was celebrating that it had won the election coverage ratings with ten million viewers through the night. Joe Rogan’s three-hour interview with Donald Trump had over 46 million views when I looked at it the day after the election. It’s not even close.
Rather than a small number of trusted news anchors telling us what is happening in the world, we now live in a media environment where Goldman Sachs estimates that there are more than 50 million social media influencers who consciously use their online followings to make money through promoting brands and swaying public opinion.
Trump instinctively understood the role of social media influencers because he was one. His incendiary tweets and promotion of “birtherism” during the Obama Presidency built the platform that ultimately gave him the White House. As mainstream institutions became less trusted, Trump’s direct approach resonated even more deeply, fostering a sense of loyalty among supporters who valued his rejection of the establishment.
In many ways, Trump’s rise is emblematic of a more significant shift in power from centralised, established structures to more fluid, dynamic networks. His success demonstrated that in today’s world, influence isn’t held solely by those in positions of traditional authority; it is increasingly accessible to those who can harness the power of technology and social networks to mobilise, disrupt, and reshape narratives. Trump’s ability to recognise and leverage these shifts enabled him to build a movement around discontent and anti-establishment sentiment, showing how radically the political landscape has changed in the age of technology.
By positioning himself as both a product of and a response to this massive societal shift, Trump redefined political influence in ways that continue to bewilder people who expect the game to be played the old way.
All this change is making us sick.
The culmination of the failure of the Enlightenment project, the rise of the assumption of subjective truth initially propagated by the Romantics and the technology that is sorting us into new media echo chambers has created a massive societal shift which Donald Trump was able to use better than anyone else and swept him to power.
As American President, however, he will be leading a country that is being made sick by the very forces that brought him to power. These forces contribute directly to a mental health crisis marked by loneliness, depression, and anxiety especially among young adults.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) further confirms that social isolation and loneliness are significant public health concerns, with social media playing a complex role. While it provides a way to connect, especially for adolescents and young adults, it also sometimes replaces face-to-face interactions, which are crucial for emotional health (AIHW). This shift toward digital-only connections can lead individuals to feel disconnected, even when they are surrounded by virtual “friends.” Over-reliance on social media can ultimately create a vicious cycle where loneliness drives more social media use, which in turn increases feelings of isolation and emotional distress.
The Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology journal adds that loneliness and social isolation can lead to significantly poorer mental health outcomes, especially in older adults. The study highlights that isolation correlates with a higher risk of mental health issues, shorter lifespan, and declines in physical health (Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology). This correlation is relevant to all age groups, indicating that without intentional, in-person relationships, social media can be more of a barrier than a bridge to connection.
Studies indicate that social polarisation often leads to heightened social tensions, as distinct groups with little overlap become isolated in their experiences, perspectives, and opportunities (Carnegie Endowment for International Peace). These divisions create environments where people interact less with those outside their socio-economic circles, which diminishes mutual understanding and can erode societal cohesion.
As society emphasises personal reality, individuals increasingly face isolation and emotional distress, reflecting the high cost of a fractured community and subjective truth.
What does this mean?
I recently completed an extended period of preaching about the Book of Revelation, which has been the source of polarisation and misinformation.
One passage in Revelation particularly struck me:
Then from his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river, to overtake the woman and sweep her away with the torrent. [16] But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.
Revelation 12:15-17 NIV
Revelation is rich with symbolism. Throughout the book (Revelation 1:16, 2:16, 19:15 and 19:21) Jesus is characterised as having a sword coming out of his mouth. I am unaware of anyone who thinks Jesus literally has a sword coming out of his mouth, but there is general agreement that this sword represents the word of truth (Ephesians 6:17).
The river from the Serpent (Satan) also comes from his mouth, representing his primary weapon—lies and deception. Jesus, describing Satan’s nature in John 8:44, calls him the “father of lies,” whose native language is deception.
Right here, we see the nature of the actual battle of Revelation and the battle of our lives as a battle for truth. Satan is seeking to sweep Christ’s followers away with his lies, but it doesn’t work because (to borrow the title of a 90s film) reality bites. The created order itself steps in to counter Satan’s assault:
“The earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth.” (Revelation 12:16)
The imagery here is profound. Lies are inherently dysfunctional because they contradict the very reality that God has established. They distort the truth, promising freedom but ultimately leading to bondage, confusion, and harm. Yet, as Revelation shows, God’s created order is a reality founded on His truth, which cannot support or sustain falsehood.
The Enlightenment project faced the challenge of reality. We will not become smart enough to create a unified world without sin.
The challenge that the Romantic move towards subjective truth continues to hit is the challenge of reality. Ultimately, you can talk all you like, but if you are not acting in accordance with reality, your actions will cause damage. You can tell as many people as you like that you can fly, but the moment you jump off the roof, you will discover that lies don’t defeat reality.
The challenge the Democratic Party and those that Donald Trump calls elites hit was the challenge of reality. There were a whole lot of people who were feeling as though they were being taken for granted and abused by a system where the rich were getting richer, and the poor were getting poorer.
Followers of Jesus should never be scared of the truth, but they should always be wary of anything that seeks to conceal it. This is the essence of Paul’s encouragement in Ephesians 5:
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.
Ephesians 5:8-13 NIV
According to Paul, believers are to be agents of light; we are meant to help people see the truth. We are to distance ourselves from anyone who seeks to avoid the truth and should actively work to “expose them.” Paul says that, ultimately, any time darkness is brought into the light, it becomes a light itself.
Lies may temporarily sway the world, but they are ultimately unsustainable because they lack the substance and life that come from reflecting reality. While it was clear that Donald Trump regularly lied to define himself against the “elites,” he represented a truth that the majority of Americans could identify with—even though it would be hard to find someone who better symbolised an elite than Donald Trump himself.
There was a truth that Donald Trump embodied, which meant that the more he was seen as persecuted, the more people identified with him.
He now has a problem, though: the very forces that brought him to power are the forces that make governing through political power almost impossible.
Sadly, many Christians have over-identified with Trump and the allure of power, which is exactly the opposite approach to life espoused by Revelation.
What should Christians do?
The book of Revelation is an invitation to reality test the promises of every other system (enlightenment, romanticism, capitalism, MAGA) against the truth of Christ. Dallas Willard writes:
Jesus came to respond to the universal human need to know how to live well. He came to show us how, through reliance on him, we can best live in the universe as it really is. That is why he said, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (Jn 10:10). His supremacy lies in the greatness of the life he gives to us. Putting Jesus Christ into a worldwide competition with all known alternatives is the only way we can give our faith a chance to prove his power over the whole of life.
We shouldn’t be surprised that Harvard Professor Arthur C Brooks has pointed out that four factors that DO build a healthy and whole life have repeatedly been reality tested and have lots of empirical evidence to back them up:
- Faith provides a foundation for individuals that goes beyond self-interest, grounding them in a reality that transcends personal experience.
- Friendships that foster genuine connections that are not based on transactional gain but on mutual care and support, helping individuals find meaning and companionship that counteracts loneliness.
- Family fosters stability and love and gives a network of support
- Meaningful Work encourages individuals to live lives marked by outward focus and compassion, countering the isolation and dissatisfaction bred by self-centred culture.
In a rapidly changing world, the Church has the potential to bridge divides, providing a sense of unity and purpose that is increasingly hard to find. By promoting truth, fostering authentic relationships, and supporting faith, family, friendship, and meaningful work, the Church can address the underlying causes of societal fragmentation and mental distress.
As Jesus described in Matthew 5:13-16, the Church is called to be “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world,” guiding individuals toward a life of health, wholeness, and community.
In fulfilling this role, the Church nurtures individual well-being and builds a society where true unity, compassion, and stability thrive.
Those interested in reading the whole essay with footnotes can get it here
First Published at faithreflections.org Matt Garvin is a Baptist pastor in Hobart. Used with permission