NEW BOOK: “The Dark Charisma of Donald Trump: Political Psychology and the MAGA Movement”

My latest monograph, “The Dark Charisma of Donald Trump: Political Psychology and the MAGA Movement,” has now been released in paperback and hardcover.

BOOK DESCRIPTION: The presidency of Donald Trump posed a challenge to many political theorists, pundits, and analysts, who were accustomed to interrogating world leaders through their professed social, economic, and political ideologies. Yet, throughout the administration of the 45th American President, no political ideology ever became ascertainable; no philosophical first principles were ever revealed, and nothing other than the politics-of-self-advancement seemed to motivate the gameshow-host-turned-politician. It became increasingly clear that what animated Donald Trump’s presidency were not the lofty ideals that Americans were accustomed to, but rather his own highly-particularized psychological matrix. According to the author, one cannot understand the charismatic leadership of Donald Trump through the lenses of political ideology. Rather, it is only by critically examining the political psychology of Trump and his “devotees” that one can fully grasp the dangerous nature of Trump’s “Dark Charisma” and the “Make America Great Again” movement that is defined by such. Systematically drawing upon both psychoanalysis and social psychology, as well as political philosophy, contemporary sociology, and American history, the author constructs a comprehensive political psychology that takes the reader inside the mind of Trump and his loyal devotees and explains how Trump’s charismatic leadership led millions of Americans to believe that he was the “divinely chosen” agent of American renewal, when in reality he posed the greatest threat to American democracy since the civil war.

490 Pages.

There are a few ways to purchase the book:

Ekpyrosis Press (US):

Paperback ($28): The Dark Charisma of Donald Trump

Hardcover ($45): The Dark Charisma of Donald Trump

Amazon (US & Canada):

Paperback ($28): The Dark Charisma of Donald Trump

Hardcover ($45): The Dark Charisma of Donald Trump

Lulu (US, Canada, International):

Paperback ($28): The Dark Charisma of Donald Trump

Hardcover ($45): The Dark Charisma of Donald Trump

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Ekpyrosis Press: A New Publishing House with a Dialectical Mission

Ekpyrosis Press is a new academic press dedicated to publishing books and articles that advance the following three principles:

  1. Know Thyself (γνῶθι σεαυτόν): Ekpyrosis Press is engaged in a rediscovery and revivification of Western thought, rooted in the three seedbed societies: Jerusalem, Athens, and Rome. This is especially important in the face of growing nationalism, which seeks to use Western heritage as a weapon against other peoples. The West is strongest when it knows itself; it does not fear others when it does.
  2. Inter-civilizational Discourse: Ekpyrosis Press is dedicated to engaging in robust discourses with other civilizations, including the Muslim World, with the practical intent to lessen misunderstandings, hatred, and war.
  3. The Hopeless (Die Hoffnungslosen): Ekpyrosis Press is dedicated to the defense of the hopeless and the marginalized in Western and Resten societies. Strength does not flow from barbarity, rather it is a feature of solidarity with those who find themselves the victims of the slaughter bench of history.

To learn more about Ekpyrosis Press, as well as to see our forthcoming titles, please visit us through the below link:

Ekpyrosis Press

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On the Radio discussing the Psychology of Trump and his devotees

On January 28, 2026, I had the great honor to join Kevin M. DeJesus on his radio show, The Compass on 990WBOB. We discussed my book, The Dark Charisma of Donald Trump: Political Psychology and the MAGA Movement, published by Ekpyrosis Press. I explained why political psychology and/or psychoanalytic political theory is more helpful for understanding the presidency of Donald Trump as opposed to political philosophy, due to the fact that Donald Trump has no coherent ideology. If you’d like to listen to the episode or download it, see the link below.

The Compass: The Psychology of MAGA

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Celebrating MLK; Talking about Justice

On Wednesday, January 21st, I had the distinct pleasure to be a speaker at the 2nd annual Hiram Archer Student Success Academy (HASSA) at The University of Olivet. I spoke on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s conception of Justice, and why it is needed in the world today, as we, like Dr. King, live in a time of despair, a time of troubles, and a time wherein faith in our ability to govern ourselves with justice for all is disintegrating. I joined President Dr. Steven Corey, Author and Speaker DeAndre Carter, Oakland University’s Dr. Tonya Bailey and her amazing husband Lee Bailey, as well as the unconquerable recording artist, LaQuisha Burries-Finn. We also had the pleasure of listening to the UO Gospel Choir and the violinist, Rodney Page. This was a tremendous event, one wherein the spirit of Dr. King emanated through all the speakers and performers.

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Two new paperbacks of two new genius books!

The end of the year 2025 has seen the release of two paperback versions of the books I recently co-edited and published with Brill. The first is, “Sigmund Freud as a Critical Social Theorist: Psychoanalysis and the Neurotic in Contemporary Society,” co-edited with Seyed Javad Miri. The Second is, “The Many Faces of Populism: Perspectives from Critical Theory and Beyond,” co-edited with Mlado Ivanovic and Jeremiah Morelock. The paperbacks were published by Haymarket Books in Chicago, as part of the Studies in Critical Social Sciences series, edited by David Fasenfest.

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Just Released: On Christian Nationalism: Critical and Theological Perspectives

In late November 2025, Routledge just released the edited volume, On Christian Nationalism: Critical and Theological Perspectives, edited by David M. Gides and Joan Braune. In it, I have a chapter entitled, “Messianic Ruscism: Christian Nationalism and the Lure of Putin’s Russkii Mir,” which discusses why certain American Christian Nationalists look to palingenetic Russia, with its reversal of Soviet theomachism for the resurgence of Orthodoxy and autocracy, as a model of what they’d like to do in America. The “symphonia” of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Putinist state is a template for a renewal of “Christian America” for many self-avowed Christian Nationalists, who see “shared values” in the conservative values of the anti-West politics of Putin (and Alexander Dugin). Obviously, I’m deeply critical of this vision for America as well as for Russia. Get yourself a copy of this book. Joan and David did an excellent job!

You can find the book at Routledge’s website: On Christian Nationalism.

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UO Students to The Zekelman Holocaust Center

On Thursday, November 13th, 2025, I was able to take the students in my “Religion and Philosophy in the Third Reich” course at The University of Olivet to The Zekelman Holocaust Center in Farmington Hills, MI. For many of the students, it was the first time they were confronted with artifacts and exhibits related to the mechanized mass extermination of a civilian population: the Jews of Europe. We had a wonderful guide, “Jimm,” who not only explained the many exhibits on display, but reminded the students about the categorical need to stand up to injustice, prejudice, violence, and genocide. If you haven’t been to The Zekelman Holocaust Center, I would strongly suggest a visit. It is well worth it. Below are just a few of the pictures taken on our visit:

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Psychoanalysis and Syed Hussein Alatas

On October 24th, I had the opportunity to present my work on Syed Hussain Alatas and his concept of the “Captive Mind” at the Association for the Psychoanalysis of Culture and Society conference, held at Rutgers University. The theme of this year’s conference was “The Psychoanalytic Subject in a Fractured World: Culture, Power, and the Politics of Existence.” The article my presentation was based on was included in a special issue on Psychoanalysis and Colonialism in the journal, Psychoanalysis, Culture and Society. A link to the article can be found below.

Alatas Decolonizing PsychoanalysisDownload
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Artificial Intelligence and St. Augustine’s Just War Theory – St. Mary’s University – Edinburgh

On September 3rd, 2025, I had the opportunity to present my work on the ethical problems of AI in warfare at the “Catholic Social Teachings and AI” conference at St. Mary’s University-Twickenham-London, Edinburgh campus. Stephen Dolan was the genius who organized the conference and I’m especially grateful that he invited me to address the attendees. My presentation discussed the ethical issues regarding the use of Artificial Intelligence in warfare, with Israel’s genocide of Palestinians in Gaza as a particular egregious case. While I’m no expert on the technical side of AI, the ethics of its use for military means seems deeply problematic, especially as it relates to the 7-point Just War Theory.

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Discussing the “Magic Helper” at the Self & Society Symposium – Chicago

On August 7th, I had the wonderful opportunity to discuss my book, The Dark Charisma of Donald Trump: Political Psychology and the MAGA Movement, at the Self Society Symposium (SSS) at Loyola University in Chicago. The SSS is coordinated by the great scholar, Lauren Langman, of Loyola University. I was joined by many other sociologists, psychologists, theologians, and philosophers to discuss ongoing issues in our society, especially the U.S. drift towards authoritarianism. In my presentation, I used Erich Fromm’s notion of the “Magic Helper,” found in his seminal 1941 book, Escape from Freedom, to highlight how Trump’s most submissive devotees perceive him as a national messianic force. We had a wonderful dinner and discourse the night before our symposium at Lauren’s house in Lincoln Park, for which Lauren was the most gracious host.

If you are interested in my book, The Dark Charisma of Donald Trump: Political Psychology and the MAGA Movement, it is available three different ways: Ekpyrosis Press Website; Amazon; Lulu.

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