Why Trump and Putin see eye to eye - Maxim Gardus

How does charisma explain the political alliance between Trump and Putin? Why do Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin find common ground? What makes their rhetoric resonate despite their differing political backgrounds?

Many attribute this to theories of "bribery," "KGB influence," or pragmatic geopolitical calculations. However, there is something deeper at play.

The answer lies in a shared worldview. One of the most powerful movements shaping this worldview is the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR).

In the late 1990s, American theologian C. Peter Wagner articulated a concept that revolutionized traditional Protestantism. He asserted that Christianity needed a new apostolic age where spiritual leaders would not just be pastors but direct messengers of God.

This was not merely a religious revolution; it was a challenge to liberal democracy itself.

Followers of NAR believe that the world is governed not by the people through elections, but by God through His chosen ones.

The state, culture, economy, education, and media should all come under the authority of those who "hear God's voice." Political democracy? It is a temporary misunderstanding that obstructs the establishment of true order.

The key idea of NAR is that secularism is evil.

Human rights, tolerance, and the separation of powers are all artificial barriers preventing the world from returning to its original "Divine Order."

How is this connected to Trump?

When Trump ran for president, many viewed him as a cynical player using religious rhetoric to mobilize voters. However, the reality was more complex.

At the outset of his campaign, "apostles" of NAR emerged alongside him, proclaiming that he was God's chosen one. They compared him to the biblical Cyrus, who, though not righteous, was meant to fulfill God's purpose.

During his presidency, Trump relied on supporters of this movement. These individuals shaped his "Make America Great Again" rhetoric not just as a political slogan but as a missionary program. They did not see him as a typical president — he became a charismatic leader for them, a prophet fighting for the return of America to its true "Christian" roots.

When Biden won in 2020, the same apostles declared: "This is impossible. God could not allow this. We must fight."

Many participants in the Capitol storm on January 6, 2021, belonged to congregations preaching NAR ideas. They did not merely support Trump; they believed that God had given them a mission to return the country to the "right" path.

Why is this ideology complementary to Russia?

Upon examining the ideological foundation of Putin's regime, it appears remarkably similar to the NAR concept.

At the core of modern Russian state ideology are the views of Ivan Ilyin — an émigré philosopher who developed the concept of "spiritual dictatorship" in the 1920s. He believed that democracy destroys the morality of society and that a leader should gain power not through elections but through divine calling.

Putin openly references Ilyin. He quotes him in his speeches and even organized the reburial of his remains in Russia in 2005. For Putin, Ilyin is an ideological beacon explaining why Russia should not follow the West.

Like NAR, the Putin regime proclaims that liberal democracy is a deception designed to weaken genuine Christian nations. Instead, it offers a model of spiritual leadership where state and religion merge into one.

Trump and Putin find common ground not because of secret conspiracies between them but because they resonate on a philosophical level.

NAR preaches that democratic institutions should yield to the "anointed ones of God," embodying His will.

Putin's doctrine asserts that the people should not choose their leaders but should trust in the "spiritual king."

In both the U.S. and Russia, these ideas push societies towards an authoritarian model, where power is concentrated in the hands of charismatic leaders who reject traditional democratic mechanisms.

Thus, when someone claims that there is a "special operation" between the Kremlin and right-wing Republicans, it is only part of the truth.

In reality, they simply believe in a remarkably similar worldview.

So, when we talk about the threat to democracy, it is crucial to understand: this is not merely a matter of a single election campaign or a political cycle.

This is a clash of two ideas — one that believes in the power of choice and one that believes in the power of a charismatic leader.

And this is something that must be acknowledged.