Is being MAGA patriotic?

"Make America Great Again", or MAGA, was the slogan of Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign and has since become the name of a political movement and a group of supporters. The question of whether being MAGA is patriotic is really two questions: what the movement stands for, and what patriotism means.

People mean different things by patriotism. For some it is love of country and its people, loyalty to its flag and traditions, and putting the national interest first. For others it is loyalty to the country's founding ideas, such as the rule of law, equal rights and peaceful transfer of power, even when that means criticising leaders or policies. These meanings overlap but they can point in different directions.

Supporters of the movement argue that it expresses a deep love of country and concern for its future. They say it stands for putting American workers and communities first, securing borders, rebuilding industry, defending traditional values and national sovereignty, and challenging elites who they feel have neglected ordinary citizens. On this view, caring about a country's strength and identity is exactly what patriotism means.

Critics argue that patriotism means loyalty to a country's principles and institutions, not to a leader or a slogan. They point to rhetoric they consider divisive, to the dispute over the 2020 election result and the events of 6 January 2021, and to policies they believe harm some Americans and weaken democratic norms, and say these are not patriotic. They also note that many people who disagree with the movement love their country just as much [check: keep these descriptions neutral and add sources you trust for any events you mention].

The movement includes many people with different reasons and views, so statements about all supporters are rarely accurate.

If you take part in this debate, it helps to define patriotism first, to separate the movement's policies, leader and supporters, and to avoid assuming bad motives in others.