The Scapegoating Crisis: Girardian Insights into Modern GOP Rhetoric
How Trump, Musk, Vance, and Thiel Exploit Scapegoating and Projection to Maintain Power
An exploration of the modern divide-and-conquer tactics defining the Trumpist GOP.
Girard 101: Mimetic Desire, Scapegoating, and the Sacrificial Crisis
René Girard’s groundbreaking theories offer a powerful framework for understanding modern politics, particularly the dynamics of scapegoating and projection within the Republican Party. His ideas on mimetic desire, scapegoating, and the sacrificial crisis provide critical insights into the rhetoric and strategies employed by figures like Donald Trump, J.D. Vance, Elon Musk, and Peter Thiel.
Mimetic Desire
Girard argues that human desires are inherently imitative. We learn what to want by observing others, leading to competition and rivalry. In politics, this manifests as rival factions vying for the same sources of power, legitimacy, or cultural authority. These shared desires often escalate into conflict, setting the stage for the scapegoat mechanism.
Scapegoating and the Sacrificial Crisis
When rivalries intensify, societies face what Girard called a “sacrificial crisis,” a period of chaos where the social fabric begins to fray. To resolve this, groups unite against a scapegoat—an outsider or marginalized figure—blaming them for collective problems. The act of symbolic “sacrifice” temporarily restores order but leaves deeper tensions unresolved.
Projection as a Companion to Scapegoating
Projection, a psychological defense mechanism, often dovetails with scapegoating. Leaders externalize their flaws, attributing them to scapegoats, which shields them from criticism and solidifies their followers’ loyalty. For Girard, this combination reinforces societal divisions, perpetuating cycles of resentment and conflict.
Scapegoating and Projection in the Modern Republican Party
1. Donald Trump: The Scapegoater-in-Chief
Trump’s political success rests on his ability to create an endless array of scapegoats: immigrants, the media, the “deep state,” and global elites. His rhetoric channels widespread economic anxiety and cultural resentment into a clear, simplistic narrative: “They” are the problem, and “we” are the victims.
Projection in Action: Trump’s critiques of elites and corruption are textbook projection. Despite being born into wealth and accused of numerous unethical practices, he frames himself as an anti-establishment outsider. This narrative deflects criticism and amplifies his populist appeal.
The Wall as Symbolic Sacrifice: Trump’s proposed border wall embodies the scapegoat mechanism. It externalizes blame for economic and social instability onto immigrants, offering a physical and symbolic “solution” to systemic tensions. More recently, his continued claims of election fraud serve as a scapegoating tactic, targeting election officials, judges, and state governments as culprits in a fabricated narrative of victimization.
Current Example: Trump’s indictment in multiple criminal cases has become a rallying point where he scapegoats the Department of Justice and the judiciary as part of a “witch hunt” against him, turning his legal challenges into a symbol of persecution for his base.
2. J.D. Vance: Critic Turned Champion of the Elite Narrative
J.D. Vance’s evolution from Trump critic to ardent supporter illustrates the political utility of scapegoating. His rhetoric pits the working class against “coastal elites,” portraying himself as a defender of “real America.”
Projection and Elite Hypocrisy: Vance condemns Ivy League-educated elites while benefiting from the very networks he critiques as a Yale Law graduate. His populist positioning distracts from his own privileged status, enabling him to frame others as the source of inequality and alienation.
Scapegoating Social Decline: Vance attributes community breakdowns in Appalachia to shadowy “elites” undermining traditional values. This oversimplification channels resentment away from structural issues like corporate exploitation or policy failures—areas where his own political allies are often complicit.
Current Example: In debates over East Palestine, Ohio’s train derailment crisis, Vance scapegoated federal regulators and “woke” priorities for undermining railway safety, deflecting attention from the deregulation and corporate cost-cutting practices he has supported.
3. Elon Musk: The Billionaire Outsider
Musk’s transition from tech visionary to self-styled culture warrior illustrates how scapegoating and projection operate in tandem. His attacks on the “woke mind virus” and traditional media outlets echo the broader conservative push to identify scapegoats for societal malaise.
Projection as Branding: Musk’s critique of “elites” is ironic given his position as one of the wealthiest individuals on the planet. By framing himself as a rebel fighting against oppressive institutions, Musk masks his elite status and deflects attention from the ways his ventures contribute to inequality and consolidation of power.
Scapegoating Progressivism: Musk’s invocation of a “woke mind virus” targets progressives as the scapegoat for societal stagnation. This narrative absolves tech and corporate power from responsibility while fueling culture wars that distract from substantive issues.
Current Example: Musk’s management of Twitter (now X) has included firing critics and blaming “activists” for revenue losses, positioning himself as a victim of progressive forces even as his actions alienate advertisers and degrade platform functionality.
4. Peter Thiel: Architect of Anti-Elite Rhetoric
As a billionaire venture capitalist, Thiel’s financial support for Trump, Vance, and other populist figures underlines his role as both an insider and an enabler of scapegoating narratives.
Projection and Disruption: Thiel critiques “the establishment” for stifling innovation while benefiting immensely from the very systems he decries. This paradox allows him to position himself as an outsider, aligning with populist rhetoric while leveraging his elite status to influence policy and elections.
Scapegoating Academia and Government: Thiel’s frequent criticism of universities and government as stagnant institutions creates convenient scapegoats for societal challenges. His framing diverts attention from corporate practices and wealth inequality, placing blame on public institutions instead.
Current Example: Thiel-backed candidates like Blake Masters have parroted his rhetoric, blaming government regulation and immigration for economic stagnation while proposing policies that deepen inequality and concentrate wealth.
Why Scapegoating and Projection Work
Simplification of Complex Problems
Scapegoating and projection reduce systemic issues like economic inequality, corporate consolidation, and community breakdown into easily digestible narratives. By offering a villain, these tactics galvanize supporters without requiring substantive policy solutions.
Emotional Resonance
People facing economic or cultural displacement find catharsis in scapegoating narratives. Projection enhances this by allowing leaders to portray themselves as victims or underdogs, even when they are among the most privileged.
Reinforcement of Power
Scapegoating and projection allow elites to maintain their positions of power by deflecting criticism. By directing anger outward, they prevent scrutiny of their own complicity in the very issues they claim to combat.
The Consequences of Scapegoating and Projection
Short-Term Consequences
Polarization: Scapegoating divides society into hostile camps, deepening political and cultural divides. This fragmentation weakens the potential for collaboration or compromise.
Distrust of Institutions: By targeting institutions such as the media, government, or academia, scapegoating narratives erode public trust. Institutions under siege struggle to fulfill their functions, reinforcing the perception of their ineffectiveness.
Temporary Relief, Not Solutions: Scapegoating offers a psychological release for societal tensions but fails to address underlying issues. This leaves communities vulnerable to repeated cycles of blame and crisis.
Long-Term Consequences
Institutional Weakening: Prolonged scapegoating undermines the credibility and functionality of institutions essential for democracy and societal stability. This creates a feedback loop where weakened institutions become easier targets.
Entrenched Inequality: By distracting attention from systemic issues, scapegoating allows economic inequality, corporate consolidation, and other structural problems to worsen unchecked.
Escalation of Cultural Conflict: Over time, scapegoating normalizes antagonism and makes reconciliation between factions increasingly difficult, perpetuating cycles of resentment and violence.
Fighting Back: Strategies to Combat Scapegoating and Projection
1. Promote Media Literacy and Critical Thinking
Educating the public about the mechanisms of scapegoating and projection can help individuals recognize when these tactics are being used. Media literacy programs can empower citizens to question oversimplified narratives and seek out reliable, nuanced information.
2. Rebuild Trust in Institutions
Strengthening the transparency and accountability of institutions can counteract the erosion of trust caused by scapegoating. By demonstrating competence and fairness, institutions can reestablish their legitimacy and resist efforts to delegitimize them.
3. Focus on Structural Reforms
Addressing systemic issues like economic inequality, healthcare access, and corporate overreach can remove the underlying causes of societal tension that scapegoating exploits. Policies that reduce wealth concentration and ensure equitable opportunities can undermine the appeal of scapegoating narratives.
4. Foster Empathy and Dialogue
Creating spaces for open and respectful dialogue can counteract the divisive effects of scapegoating. By emphasizing shared humanity and common goals, communities can reduce polarization and build solidarity across ideological divides.
5. Hold Leaders Accountable
Exposing and challenging the hypocrisy of leaders who use scapegoating and projection is essential. Publicly highlighting inconsistencies in their rhetoric and actions can weaken their influence and shift the focus to substantive solutions.
6. Strengthen Civic Engagement
Encouraging active participation in democratic processes can empower individuals to take ownership of their communities and counteract feelings of disempowerment. Grassroots organizing and community-building efforts can create alternatives to the top-down narratives of scapegoating leaders.
Conclusion: Breaking the Cycle
René Girard’s insights illuminate the cyclical nature of scapegoating and projection in politics. Figures like Trump, Vance, Musk, and Thiel skillfully exploit these dynamics to maintain power, crafting narratives that obscure their own elite status while deflecting attention from systemic problems.
The danger lies in the perpetuation of unresolved tensions. Scapegoating and projection provide temporary unity, but they deepen societal divisions over time. Breaking this cycle requires recognizing these patterns, challenging their underlying hypocrisies, and fostering solutions rooted in shared humanity and structural change.
As Girard might suggest, the antidote to scapegoating lies in empathy and self-awareness. Only by rejecting the allure of blame and projection can we move toward genuine understanding and progress.