Culture or cult? What the 2024 U.S. election might tell us about leadership and democracy

Leadership is more than policy—it’s about how power is exercised and how followers respond. A strong culture creates alignment through shared values and institutional trust, while a cult-like system demands personal loyalty, a some-what rigid ideology, and unquestioning obedience.

The 2024 U.S. election, which saw Donald Trump return to the presidency, raises an interesting question: Did voters choose a strong, principle-led leadership culture, or did they embrace a movement centered around a single leader?

To answer this, we can - more or less acurately - evaluate the Trump and Biden administrations through four key differences between a strong culture and a cult, inspired by this really nice piece in Forbes by Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic: 4 Differences Between A Strong Organizational Culture And A Cult

1. Encouraging Critical Thinking vs. Demanding Blind Obedience

So, a strong leadership culture fosters debate, discussion, and the ability to challenge authority without fear. A cult-like structure rejects dissent, punishing those who question the leader.

• Trump: His administration and campaign prioritized absolute loyalty over independent thought. Officials who questioned his actions—whether on COVID-19, foreign policy, or election integrity—were publicly criticized, dismissed, or marginalized. His return to office was fueled by a narrative of betrayal and revenge, where those who opposed him were labeled as enemies. January 6, 2021, and its aftermath reinforced the consequences of defying him.
• Biden: His administration operated within a traditional institutional structure, where internal debates on economic policy, Ukraine aid, and energy strategy played out publicly. While his leadership lacked the emotional mobilization of Trump’s, it allowed policy decisions to be shaped by expertise rather than personal loyalty.

The 2024 election results suggest that a large portion of voters preferred the certainty of a leader who demands loyalty over the slower, more deliberative process of institutional governance.

2. Values Individuality vs. Enforces Conformity

A strong culture welcomes diversity of thought and individual strengths. A cult-like structure pressures members to adopt a singular mindset, suppress independent identity, and follow a leader’s personal vision without deviation.

• Trump: His leadership was deeply personalized—it was about him, not just his policies. His return to power was framed as a movement to restore America through him alone. His base largely reflects cultural and ideological uniformity, and any deviation from his vision—whether from party members or supporters—is met with rejection.
• Biden: His administration balanced moderates, progressives, and centrists, creating an often messy but functioning coalition. The Democratic Party’s internal disagreements—on spending, climate policy, and foreign relations—demonstrate that individuality and ideological variation are tolerated.

The 2024 election showed that many voters prefer a leadership style that offers simple, consistent, and emotionally charged messaging over a diverse, sometimes conflicting, range of perspectives.

3. Flexibility vs. Rigidity

A strong culture adapts to changing realities. A cult-like structure remains rigid, rejecting new information and clinging to past narratives, even when evidence suggests change is necessary.

• Trump: His movement is built on fixed narratives, particularly regarding election fraud, immigration, and his role as a political outsider. Even as evidence contradicts many of his claims, the message remains unchanged, and supporters are expected to continue believing in its legitimacy. His re-election was driven by the belief that his 2020 loss was fraudulent, despite all legal and factual challenges disproving it.
• Biden: His administration showed some flexibility, particularly in shifting economic policies in response to inflation and adapting foreign policy strategies to global crises. However, his leadership sometimes lacked a clear and decisive narrative, making it harder to inspire the same level of commitment among his supporters.

The 2024 election suggests that many voters preferred a leader who sticks to a single, unwavering story—even when reality changes—over one who adapts based on circumstances.

4. Psychological Safety vs. Fear-Based Compliance

A strong culture creates a sense of trust, where individuals can express concerns and admit mistakes. A cult-like structure enforces compliance through fear, punishment, and public humiliation of dissenters.

• Trump: Those who oppose or criticize him—whether Republican officials, judges, or former allies—are often ridiculed, attacked, or politically exiled. The Republican Party has largely transformed into a Trump-first movement, where politicians risk their careers by opposing him. The fear of being labeled a “traitor” or “RINO” (Republican in Name Only) has solidified a fear-driven loyalty system.
• Biden: His leadership style does not rely on public shaming or purging dissenters. His coalition has disagreements, but party members and officials are not systematically punished for stepping out of line. While political pressures exist, there is no Trump-style culture of fear within the Democratic Party.

The 2024 election indicates that a large segment of voters responded positively to a leader who enforces compliance through fear and social punishment, rather than one who governs through institutional trust.

Final Thoughts: What the 2024 Election Reveals About Leadership in America

Both the Trump and Biden administrations built strong leadership cultures—but in fundamentally different ways.

• Trump’s leadership remains cult-like, demanding loyalty, rejecting dissent, resisting change, and punishing those who step out of line. His return to office reflects a growing desire among voters for emotionally charged, leader-driven governance, even at the expense of democratic norms.
• Biden’s leadership remains institutionally driven, prioritizing expertise, flexibility, and coalition-building. However, his governance style lacks the emotional engagement and simplicity of Trump’s messaging, making it harder to mobilize voters.

So, one key question is: Why did millions of Americans prefer a movement centered around a single leader rather than a governance model rooted in institutions and principles?

The answer might lie in the deep cultural and political shifts reshaping the U.S. Many voters distrust institutions, crave decisive leadership, and feel disillusioned by traditional politics. Trump offers a clear, emotionally satisfying narrative, while Biden offers a complicated, institutional process.

The challenge for the future of American democracy is whether principle-led leadership can regain the public’s trust—or whether the demand for personality-driven, emotionally charged leadership will become the new norm.

If you, like me, find this ,topic interesting, and, you read/undertand Danish, this book might interest you: Storm p? vej af Steffen Kretz