Jouissance and Trump Rallies: What Happens When the Highs of Rebellion Meet the Reality of Defeat?
Monday, September 9, 2024
There’s something fascinating about the way emotions typically run high at an iconic Trump rally. It’s not just about politics—it’s about collective energy, belonging, and the thrill of rebellion.
In the world of psychoanalysis, there's a term for this kind of deep, almost excessive enjoyment: jouissance.
What is the concept of jouissance? What does it mean?
Jouissance: [French 'enjoyment', connoting jouir 'to come' in the sexual sense] 1. In psychoanalytic theory, for Lacan, an erotic ecstasy beyond the Freudian 'pleasure principle', akin to the 'death drive' since entering the symbolic order requires its loss, normalizing and regulating pleasure (plaisir).
In other words, French psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan used the word to describe the type of pleasure that’s both thrilling and a little bit uncomfortable, where you push boundaries and break norms.
For Trump supporters, the rallies were more than just political events—they were an emotional experience that tapped into this jouissance by creating a space to defy the status quo, cheer, chant, and push back against what they saw as the "establishment."
Trump is a performative cultural figure, more of a court jester than anything.
But what happens when that pleasure gets disrupted?
Imagine this: Trump loses another election, and just before Thanksgiving, he’s, let’s say, sentenced to 5 years in prison.
How does the energy that has fueled his rallies translate into such a sudden, shocking defeat? And most importantly, how will Trump’s most loyal supporters—the so-called "Trump cult"—react?
The End of Jouissance as They Know It?
For years, Trump’s rallies have been an emotional high for his supporters.
They represent more than just political speeches—they're a chance for people to come together, to feel powerful and unified in their defiance of the establishment.
This is where jouissance comes into play. Supporters didn’t just enjoy the rallies—they relished the rebellion. It was a shared cathartic release, a mix of pleasure, anger, and excitement all rolled into one.
Now, imagine that source of emotional fulfillment—those high-energy rallies—comes crashing down with the news that Trump is going to prison.
Suddenly, the person who embodied that rebellious spirit, who gave them permission to push back against the norms, is taken away. What happens to the jouissance then?
Many will likely feel angry and betrayed—not by Trump, but by the system, the media, and even other Americans who they believe are responsible for this outcome.
This isn’t just about political loss; it’s about a deep, emotional rupture. The jouissance of rebellion that once felt so pleasurable now turns into a mix of frustration, sadness, and disbelief.
How Will Trump’s Supporters React?
Trump’s core supporters have often been described as a "cult," with their loyalty tied not just to his political views but to his personality and the sense of identity they’ve built around him.
These supporters are emotionally invested in his success, and his rallies have provided a kind of communal high. When faced with his imprisonment, their reactions will likely range from anger to mobilization, and maybe even disillusionment. This might produce isolated incidents of unnecessary tragedy.
Anger and Grievance: For many, Trump’s imprisonment will confirm their belief that the system is rigged against them. His narrative of being a victim of the "deep state" or a corrupt political system will resonate even more. The anger that fuels their defiance will intensify, and this may actually heighten their sense of jouissance—now informed by a feeling of martyrdom and shared suffering.
Protests and Mobilization: Trump’s base has a reputation for being quick to mobilize, whether in support of him or in defiance of perceived injustices. We can expect protests, demonstrations, and perhaps even more radical actions from fringe groups. Trump has a way of inspiring action, and even from prison, he could urge his supporters to keep fighting in his name, framing his imprisonment as a temporary setback in a larger battle.
Disillusionment and Withdrawal: While many will rally in Trump’s defense, some may feel disillusioned by the whole process. The emotional energy that once went into those high-energy rallies may fizzle out, leaving some feeling alienated or disheartened by the political system.
As a therapist, I rarely find myself on the side of disillusionment and withdrawal from social discourse, but a quiet, politically inert, long dark night of the soul for MAGA may be just what the doctor ordered.
What Will Trump Ask?
Trump has always thrived as a figure who exists between two worlds—an insider with wealth and power, but also an outsider who rejects the norms of the political establishment. In anthropology, this makes him a liminal figure, someone who occupies an "in-between" space. This has been key to his appeal: his supporters see him as one of them, even as he operates in circles of wealth and influence.
When Trump is sentenced to prison, this status as a liminal figure will only grow stronger.
From behind bars, he will likely craft a narrative of martyrdom, positioning himself as a victim of a corrupt system that’s out to utterly silence him.
He may not be stupid enough to explicitly call for violence, but he’ll likely urge his followers to continue the fight, perhaps saying that his imprisonment is just the latest chapter in their shared battle for America’s future. He’ll probably say from prison something like “Now that they’ve illegally imprisoned me, they’ll be coming for you now, and you can’t let them”
Trump’s message to his supporters will likely be one of revenge, retribution, and resistance. Malignant narcissists are somewhat predictable, and Trump is unselect in this regard.
He’ll ask MAGA to stand by him, framing his imprisonment as a political and cultural attack on everything they’ve built together. For many of his followers, this message will fuel their sense of jouissance—a bittersweet mix of pleasure and pain, where their loyalty to him becomes even more intense in the face of his certain defeat.
Trump as a Liminal Figure: The Ultimate Rebel
In many ways, Trump has always been a liminal figure.
He’s neither fully part of the establishment nor entirely removed from it.
He’s an alleged billionaire, a former president, and yet he successfully positions himself as an outsider, fighting the "elites." This liminal status allows him to be both powerful and relatable, someone who transcends traditional political boundaries.
After his imprisonment, Trump’s role as a liminal figure will only become more pronounced.
He’ll no longer hold formal power, but his cultural influence will remain strong. In fact, his cultural and emotional power might even grow more robust. From prison, Trump could become the ultimate symbol of rebellion, a cultural icon and former president unjustly persecuted by a corrupt system. His imprisonment will allow him to fully embrace his role as a martyr, and this will only tend to deepen the emotional connection his core followers feel toward him.
Jouissance After Defeat
In the event that Trump loses an election and is sentenced to prison, the jouissance that his followers once experienced through his rallies will malevolently evolve.
While the high-energy emotional highs may be replaced with feelings of anger and grievance, the sense of rebellion and defiance that has always characterized Trump’s base will likely persist. Trump, as a liminal figure, will continue to inspire his followers, even from behind bars, asking them to remain loyal and fight on his behalf.
The emotional investment his supporters have in him is more than just political—it’s tied to their sense of identity, belonging, and resistance. Trump’s political gift was in fostering aspirational feelings, a nostalgia for pre-globalist economy, when a high school education was a working on ramp to a middle-class factory job.
Even in defeat, Trump, or someone similar, will likely find a way to keep these supporters engaged, tapping into the deeper emotional currents of jouissance that have always driven his movement.
Be Well, Stay Kind, and Godspeed.