Trump doesn't realize why MAGA needs the Epstein files

[dalton99a]

1. "They are his accomplices"

In all this back-and-forth, most MAGA voters are on the wrong side of history. They side with the rapists and harassers, and denounce the feminists who are trying to bring perpetrators to justice. Even as more stories of Trump’s abusive behavior toward women come to light, they keep voting for him. They’re invested in preserving sexist systems of power.

But you can’t be a warrior for rape culture day in and day out without starting to ask yourself, “Am I the baddie?” That’s where Epstein and his imaginary client list come in. By hating on Epstein and fantasizing about political enemies being on the “list,” MAGA gets to play at being the heroes for once. Better yet, they can do so without the risk of bringing actual predators to justice, a precedent they don’t want to establish lest it come for their leaders. After all, Epstein is dead, and his “list” only existed in their fevered imaginations.

Or least, that felt true until Trump started visibly panicking about the Epstein files. But giving up on the Epstein case now that Trump is drenched in flop sweat would amount to MAGA admitting they never cared about pedophiles or justice for victims — that it was always just a fairy tale they told to conceal the ugly truth about themselves, even to themselves.

Trump thought nothing would get in the way of his base’s loyalty to him. But it may be that the one thing that will rattle their faith is this stark reminder that he’s always been the villain, and they are his accomplices.