“That didn’t happen.
And if it did, it wasn’t that bad.
And if it was, that’s not a big deal.
And if it is, it’s not my fault.
And if it was, I didn’t mean it.
And if I did… you deserved it.”
This satirical yet piercing poem, known as the Narcissist’s Prayer, is often cited to expose how individuals with narcissistic tendencies avoid accountability. But beyond individuals, the poem resonates chillingly with a broader cultural and political phenomenon: the unwavering support for Donald Trump among his most ardent followers — the MAGA base.
It’s not that disagreement or political loyalty is inherently problematic. The issue arises when loyalty morphs into blind devotion, immune to facts, ethics, or even personal consequences. The MAGA movement, for many, isn’t just political—it’s emotional, tribal, and often theological. Using the Narcissist’s Prayer as a lens, we can dissect how this mindset manifests in the defense of Trump, especially in the face of allegations, legal troubles, and behavior that would be career-ending for most politicians.
“That didn’t happen.”
The first line represents outright denial. MAGA loyalists often begin here, rejecting facts altogether. A glaring example is the January 6th Capitol riot. Despite hours of video footage, police body cam recordings, and live broadcasts, many MAGA supporters insist it was either not a riot or was staged by “Antifa” or undercover FBI agents.
When asked about the attack, Trump himself has tried to reframe it as a “peaceful protest” or “a beautiful day.” His followers echo the sentiment, refusing to accept that the Capitol was violently stormed. This isn’t just misremembering history — it’s an active re-writing of it.
Another case: Trump’s infamous phone call to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, where he asked to “find” 11,780 votes. It was recorded, broadcast, and widely available, but many MAGA supporters either claimed it was “doctored” or taken “out of context,” or they outright deny the call was inappropriate at all.
“And if it did, it wasn’t that bad.”
When denial becomes too impossible, minimization is the next step. Trump’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic is a powerful example. Even after he admitted to downplaying the virus in recorded conversations with journalist Bob Woodward, many supporters insisted he was just trying to “prevent panic,” not deceive the public.
The Access Hollywood tape? “Locker room talk.” The separation of migrant children from their parents? “Not that many,” or “Obama did it too.” Even Trump’s multiple bankruptcies or business failings? “That’s just business.”
This kind of minimization is crucial to preserving the image of Trump as a strong, effective leader, even when facts point to significant failures or moral lapses. The MAGA response is often a collective shrug—because acknowledging the gravity would shake the foundation of the movement’s identity.
“And if it was, that’s not a big deal.”
This line pushes the envelope further into rationalization. After the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case surfaced — with images of boxes of sensitive materials in bathrooms and ballrooms — many MAGA supporters argued it wasn’t a big deal because “everyone does it.” Comparisons were drawn to Hillary Clinton’s emails, as if one controversy nullifies the other.
The logic becomes: if others have done something similar (real or perceived), then Trump’s behavior doesn’t matter. Even when Trump’s actions break norms, laws, or ethical standards, they are reframed as minor offenses not worth attention — or worse, as mere technicalities.
“And if it is, it’s not my fault.”
Blame-shifting is essential to the MAGA ethos. When Trump was impeached (twice), the narrative wasn’t that Trump did anything wrong, but that he was the victim of a “witch hunt” by Democrats, the “deep state,” or the “fake news media.”
After the 2020 election, Trump blamed everyone except himself: state officials, the media, voting machines, and dead Venezuelan dictators (remember Hugo Chávez?). His claims of a stolen election led to hundreds of court cases, none of which found widespread fraud. Yet many MAGA believers still insist the system—not Trump—was at fault.
Even with criminal indictments, the argument isn’t “Trump broke the law,” but “the system is corrupt,” “the DOJ is weaponized,” or “Biden is targeting his political opponent.” This logic creates a moral escape hatch for both Trump and his followers.
“And if it was, I didn’t mean it.”
When MAGA followers are confronted with indisputable, damaging quotes or actions, the fallback becomes intent. Trump wasn’t really mocking a disabled reporter — “he does that gesture all the time,” they say. He didn’t really mean that there were “very fine people on both sides” in Charlottesville — the media twisted his words.
Even Trump’s call for the “termination of the Constitution” on Truth Social, following the 2020 election, was rationalized as hyperbole. MAGA supporters argue he didn’t mean it literally — just that the system is broken.
Intent becomes a foggy battlefield where clarity and accountability vanish. The idea is not to engage with the implications of the statement but to render them meaningless through ambiguity.
“And if I did… you deserved it.”
This final line is where things get truly chilling — the justification of cruelty, corruption, or violence. Trump’s rhetoric toward his political opponents — calling them “vermin,” threatening to jail them, or labeling the press as the “enemy of the people” — is often not just defended but celebrated by his most hardcore supporters.
When the FBI searched Mar-a-Lago for classified documents, Trump didn’t calm the waters; he incited anger. MAGA circles lit up with threats against federal agents. After one man attacked an FBI office in Ohio, MAGA forums spun it as a consequence of FBI aggression — not Trump’s rhetoric.
Even in the face of real danger or harm, the MAGA stance often boils down to: they had it coming. The other side is so evil, so corrupt, that any behavior is justified in the fight to “save America.”
A Movement in the Mirror
The Narcissist’s Prayer is more than a meme — it’s a psychological blueprint for avoiding guilt, shame, and responsibility. When mapped onto the MAGA movement’s defense of Donald Trump, it reveals a troubling pattern: an entire political culture built on denial, minimization, and projection.
This isn’t to say that all Trump supporters behave this way. But the most vocal and influential parts of the MAGA base have embraced these defense mechanisms as tools of survival in an increasingly surreal political landscape. To question Trump is, for many, to question themselves — and so the mirror must remain fogged.
In the end, the Narcissist’s Prayer is not just about a man. It’s about a movement. A movement that, in refusing to ever say “I was wrong,” may never fully face its own reflection.
MEDIAPEDIA 
Leave a comment