It has less to do w/fear of Covid, than it does w/having invested their identity into a political tribe & the tribe's initial downplaying Covid. The "fear" is related to admitting they were wrong, which is an implicit admission of their political enemies being "right".
Trump came into office referencing "American Carnage" in his inauguration speech. This created a permission structure for grievance/resentment, and, eventually, even retribution (Jan 6th).
@RadioFreeTom has written about the "leave it to Beaver syndrome", but..1/
...it does seem to fuel the "Make America Great Again" rhetoric. Perhaps it's cognitive dissonance....both collectively, and individually, as Americans grapple with the weight of "American Exceptionalism"....(thread) 2/
Yes, that strong will is often Narcissism and/or sociopathy/psychopathy. That need to degrade is often sadism.....or, as I've analyzed, their "punitive orientation".
Threads that analyze domination, "punitive orientation", and degradation : 1/
This is projection: When Trump talked of "American Carnage" in his inauguration, that is exactly what came to fruition.
When Trump talks of the U.S. not surviving or the end of American in 3 years, he is projecting the end of democracy when he successfully steals the election.
The Right justified/excused hundreds of thousands of people dying from Covid for the "greater good" of the economy.
Economy/jobs => Covid death.
Yet, Republicans suddenly have no problem losing 6 million jobs and $15 Trillion in loses over politics: cbsnews.com/news/debt-ceil…
Similar to Covid, Republicans will undermine the economy, and then criticize Biden/Dems for any economic failures (job loss) that the Right succeeded in bringing about: 3/