The MAGA Movement
"Make America Great Again" (MAGA, US: /ˈmæɡə/) is an American political slogan and political movement most recently popularized by Donald Trump during his successful 2016 presidential campaign. "MAGA" is also used to refer to Trump's political base, or to an individual or group of individuals from within that base .
The MAGA movement is based on the idea that the United States was once a great nation but has lost its status due to foreign influence. This influence comes from immigration and multiculturalism within the country, as well as globalization, which refers to the growing connection between different national economies. Supporters believe that the situation can improve through “America first” policies. These would promote economic protectionism, significantly limit immigration—especially from developing nations—and support what they view as traditional American values. Moreover, the MAGA movement is recognized for its confrontational nature, highlighting the deep partisanship present in today’s American politics.
This belief has made MAGA supporters more susceptible to misinformation and outlandish conspiracy theories promoted by media that aligns with their views and echoed by their leaders. One notable example is the claim that former Democratic President Barack Obama was not born in the United States, known as "birtherism."
MAGA is the Trump brand, from campaign slogan, to red hats emblazoned with the letters, to the closing line of his stump speeches. “A MAGA Republican is first and foremost a Trump supporter, no matter what he seems to do or say,” said American University political scientist James Thurber. A survey of self-identified MAGA voters conducted just after the Capitol assault found they strongly believe the election was stolen and that the riot was the work of antifa, a loose collection of activists who rally against fascism and far-right groups.