Belief in the myth of outlaw heroes partly explains Donald Trump’s die-hard support

Photographs of Al Capone taken by Chicago police on Jan. 25, 1947. Bettmann/GettyImages by David G. Bromley, Virginia Commonwealth University Before Donald Trump likened himself to Russian dissident Alexei Navalny, the former president frequently compared himself with a completely opposite personality – Chicago organized crime boss Al Capone. During a speech in Nevada in December 2023, Trump painted himself as the victim of overzealous prosecutors who have treated him worse than one of the nation’s most notorious criminals. “He got indicted once,” Trump told followers. “I got indicted four times. Over bullshit, I got indicted.” In his never-ending attempt to politicize his substantial legal troubles, Trump’s exaggerated claims of victimhood are part of the appeal to his die-hard MAGA followers, who believe what Trump tells them: He is being persecuted by deep state bureaucrats because he is fighting for them. “Never forget,” Trump said. “Our enemies want to take away my freedom because I will never let them take away your freedom … they are not after me. They’re after you. And I just happened to be standing in their way.” The message that Trump is serving as a protector against unexplained foes is part of the myth of an...