When North Korean-Style Propaganda Meets MAGA: Political Aesthetics and Trump’s Contradictory Reality

In her latest White House press briefing, press secretary Karoline Leavitt surprised many with her excessive praise of former President Donald Trump — praise so effusive that some observers likened it to “North Korean-style” flattery. Her speeches were filled with worshipful rhetoric, portraying Trump as a strong, wise, and exceptional leader. However, at almost the same time, Trump exploded in rage over a critical news article, revealing a persona completely at odds with the calm, in-control image Leavitt tried to present.

According to many analysts, this contrast is not an anomaly — it is, in fact, a defining feature of Trumpism, the political ideology centered around Donald Trump himself. Amanda Marcotte of Salon, a journalist who specializes in analyzing the psychological and political dynamics of the MAGA (Make America Great Again) movement, argues that such displays of over-the-top loyalty are not just flattery, but are key components of a modern propaganda strategy — or more precisely, what she calls the “MAGA aesthetic.”

The “MAGA Aesthetic” and the Cult of Personality

Marcotte explains that the “MAGA aesthetic” is not just about slogans or visuals — it is a symbolic system that constructs an alternate reality. In this alternate world, Trump is always right, always victorious, and perpetually the victim of hostile forces. Every outburst, every incoherent rant, every impulsive decision is cloaked by his loyal media allies as evidence of strength or authenticity.

In fact, Marcotte argues, the gap between the idealized image and Trump’s actual behavior is not a flaw — it is the feature that keeps the movement going. The more erratic and emotionally volatile Trump becomes, the more fervent the praise from people like Leavitt. Their goal is not to reflect reality, but to impose a myth — much like authoritarian regimes create larger-than-life legends around their leaders.

Propaganda and Crowd Psychology

This kind of propaganda is not designed to persuade the neutral or the skeptical. Its purpose is to deepen the loyalty of those already convinced. Over-the-top adulation, staged imagery, and empty but emotionally charged rhetoric make Trump supporters feel like part of something greater — a movement, a belief system, almost a religion.

These elements closely resemble the propaganda model seen in North Korea, where individuals no longer serve as objective commentators, but as “directors of belief,” staging a political performance in which objective truth is meaningless. In the MAGA universe, Trump’s actual behavior is irrelevant; what matters is that he is believed to be a hero.

Conclusion

Karoline Leavitt’s exaggerated praise of Donald Trump is not an isolated incident — it’s a glimpse into a propaganda framework developed and refined over years. While one side desperately builds up a symbol, the central figure himself continuously undermines it with erratic, emotional behavior. What we are witnessing is a new form of politics: the politics of worship, where the symbol matters more than the substance.

In this context, analyzing the “MAGA aesthetic” is not just about unpacking media strategies — it’s about understanding how power is built, sustained, and mythologized.