For a week leading up to the election, MIG Reports data on voter conversations using "nation" versus "country" shows a chasm between conservative and progressive perspectives. While seemingly interchangeable, these terms reveal nuanced divides in how Americans conceptualize identity, values, and the nation’s future.

A Hidden Red Vote?

This divergence in language illustrates the ideological divide in how conservatives and progressives perceive the essence of American identity.

• Conservatives use “nation” as a unified ideal to defend, while “country” serves as a metric by which to judge current policies and governance.
• Progressives invoke “country” in a forward-looking critique, advocating for systemic reform, and view “nation” as a shared moral landscape.

These linguistic choices show distinct value differences and contrasting visions for the future of America. The polarized discourse mirrors growing complexities in American political identity today.

America the “Nation”

Conservatives

• Conservatives frame their language around ideas of tradition, loyalty, and protection.
• They use "nation" as a call to defend a unified American identity and preserve foundational values.
• This perspective includes a tone of urgency, rallying to safeguard the “nation” from cultural or political shifts they see as threats.
• There’s a nostalgic or protective tone, where the “nation” symbolizes an America they believe in.
• Those on the right associate American identity as intrinsic and immutable.
• The word “nation” encapsulates pride and a duty to uphold the sovereignty of America’s founding, often with an implicit expectation of cultural continuity.

Progressives

• Those on the left typically use “nation,” to emphasize a shared moral responsibility rather than a national identity.
• It's used to invoke a cultural identity based on ideology rather than tied to a vision of America as a sovereign nation.
• For progressive, “nation” is a collective aspiration, one that leans toward diversity and equality, rather than geopolitical entity with a certain set of values.
• The progressive use of “nation” often implies targeted language about the people of America within a more globalist worldview.

American the “Country”

Conservatives

• For conservatives, "country" often symbolizes the physical and political entity of the United States—its borders, laws, and governance.
• When they discuss "country," it’s frequently in contexts of sovereignty, security, and economic self-sufficiency.
• The term ties accountability and critique of governance failures, especially threats to American stability, like immigration or foreign policy decisions.
• Conservatives use "country" when discussing what needs defending—a place whose integrity must be protected against the erosion of traditional values.
• The tone is frequently critical when discussing policies that, in their view, compromise national unity or economic vitality.

Progressives

• For progressives, "country" is not only a political or geographic entity—it represents social movement toward DEI and systemic reform.
• The term is often used to critique social and economic policies they feel fail to support marginalized groups or uphold social justice.
• In their discourse, "country" becomes a symbol of an unreached potential, or an America that should be reimagined to serve equity and inclusion.
• Progressives see "country" as a reflection of the nation’s moral and social responsibilities and use it to emphasize the need for systemic changes
• Unlike conservatives, who see it as something to safeguard, progressives speak of "country" in terms of what needs improvement from within.

Donald Trump’s popular vote win shocked many people, and online discussions are ablaze with opinions on what his victory represents. People wonder whether it signals a clear mandate for his leadership.

Sentiments are as complex as they are intense, revealing viewpoints of Trump as a figure of change, defiance against the establishment, and the embodiment of traditional American ideals.

Steve Bannon has a message; pic.twitter.com/pIni6FH0ZZ

— Anonymous Patriot (@0331online) November 6, 2024

Hope, Anxiety, and Defiance

Hope for a Renewed America

• Sentiment: 70% of Trump supporters are positive, expressing excitement and optimism. They say a popular vote win grants Trump a mandate to lead America back to prosperity, strength, and unity.
• Key Themes: This group talks about Trump’s potential to fulfill promises of national well-being. They want to “Make America Great Again,” emphasizing economic growth, strong borders, and traditional values.

Distrust of the Ruling Class

• Sentiment: 25% of discussions voice rejection of the existing political elite. For them, Trump’s victory is a rebuke of the ruling class, which they perceive as corrupt, self-serving, and disconnected from everyday Americans.
• Key Themes: Commenters use terms like “elites” and “out-of-touch politicians,” contrasting them with Trump’s outsider image. People say the establishment neglects and betrays its constituents, and Trump’s team is the antidote.

Fear and Dismay

• Sentiment: 60% of anti-Trump comments express alarm and anxiety, fearing a reversal of progress on social and economic issues. They say Trump’s victory is not just a political setback but a moral and societal regression.
• Key Themes: This group discusses the potential outcomes of a Trump administration, fearing for their rights and democracy itself. They express concern that a majority of Americans have embraced Trump’s image and promises.

Online Language

Religious and Battle Imagery

• Interpretation: Many on the right invoke religious and battle verbiage. Comments like “God has a plan” or “this is a battle for America’s soul” frame the election as having both political and moral consequences.
• Significance: This language suggests religious people see themselves as voters and participants in a higher mission. The election becomes a spiritual, existential choice, where support signifies alignment with a “righteous” path.

Inclusive and Exclusive Language

• Interpretation: Trump voters mostly use inclusive pronouns (“we,” “us”), crafting a narrative of unity among Americans who want change. They refer to the opposition as “the elites” or “the out-of-touch,” dividing citizens and the ruling class.
• Significance: There is a tribalistic tone in politics, where supporting Trump opt voters into a kind of national identity. This language can intensify polarization, where opponents view the unity cause as antithetical to their values.

Nostalgia and Moral Imperatives

• Interpretation: Americans want to return to a simpler, more authentic American identity. They talk about “freedom,” “prosperity,” and “American Dream,” evoking nostalgic imagery, framing a new administration as a new dawn.
• Significance: Many say this election isn’t only about policies but about reviving a lost culture and identity. This language carries a moral weight, making visions for the future part of a duty to uphold traditional American values.

Rejecting the Ruling Class

Americans see Trump’s popular vote win as a rejection of the political establishment. They criticize elites for their being detached from ordinary American. This sentiment is not limited to Trump’s ardent supporters, it resonates with Independents and swing voters who feel politicians on both sides have failed to represent the people’s interests.

Desire to Instill MAGA

Along with rejecting elites, there is a strong desire to instill MAGA ideals. Trump’s base ties his second administration to reviving core values like patriotism, economic opportunity, and personal freedom.

Many vies MAGA as a condensed moniker for their desire to re-embrace American values and rebuild a brighter future. This desire is coupled with a sense of urgency, as many suggest Trump has only a short time to restore the practical and thematic trajectory of the country.

Anti-Elite, Pro-America

The two forces—rejection of the ruling class and the MAGA ethos—are often intertwined. Approximately 15% of comments blend both sentiments. This suggests for many, Trump’s appeal stems from being an outsider and the embodiment of pro-America ideals.

Supporters view Trump as an opponent of the “corrupt establishment” and a catalyst for a cultural and political renaissance centered around MAGA values

Following Trump’s hostoric win in the 2024 election, more people are expressing skepticism about the results of the 2020 election. At the time of this writing, total votes cast in 2024 have fallen more than 16 million short of the 155 million touted in 2020.

Conversations reveal a sense of confusion and growing questions about the validity of 2020 numbers. People are voicing distrust in democratic institutions, confusions, concern, and grievance. Some point out the drastic spike in popular vote totals for Joe Biden in 2020 as an unconvincing anomaly which has not been sufficiently explained.

Sorry to beat a dead horse, but can we go back to what happened here? pic.twitter.com/FkScNHivuU

— zerohedge (@zerohedge) November 6, 2024

Suspicion and Distrust

• Between 50-70% of election-related discussions show a pervasive belief that the 2020 election was manipulated or "stolen."
• Sentiments are driven by old and new grievances around vote counting, absentee ballot handling, and perceived interference from influential political figures.
• Many people view the 2020 election indicative of a corrupted electoral system, amplifying calls for transparency and changes to voting regulations.
• This sustained distrust reflects wider skepticism of the institutions that continue to erode confidence in government institutions.

Idealizing Past “Truthful” Elections

• Conversations contrast the perceived flaws of the 2020 election with an idealized past when voters feel elections were simpler and more transparent.
• This nostalgic framing imagines a bygone era of “truthful” elections and democratic purity when voters trusted institutions.
• Trump’s presidency is often framed as a period when political integrity and fairness were stronger, contrasting perceived betrayals in the 2020 outcome.
• This idealization solidifies voters in a collective desire for “restoration” and perceived moral clarity.

Yes, let's do go back. American voters want and deserve to know precisely where 81 million "votes" appeared from and how all the official 2020 evidence collected via courts and states has never been properly analyzed, summarized and presented. It's a huge public topic. https://t.co/mYHb6WxVI5 pic.twitter.com/vm17MOXUWu

— Rasmussen Reports (@Rasmussen_Poll) November 6, 2024

Language of Fear and Urgency

• Rhetoric around the 2020 election incorporates language of fear and urgency, often placed in existential terms.
• Phrases like “the last free election” or “fight for our democracy” reinforce a belief that core American freedoms are at risk.
• This language intensifies the emotional resonance of the “stolen election” narrative, presenting it as a political concern and an existential threat.
• Framing magnifies the urgency for action, mobilizing those who doubt the legitimacy of the electoral process.

Collective Memory

• There is a noticeable trend of commenters referencing old grievances, such as the 1960 Nixon-Kennedy election or other contentious moments in American political history.
• By positioning the 2020 election in this historical context, people highlight a legacy of electoral controversy, which serves to legitimize current doubts.
• Collective memory reinforces perceptions of a continuous struggle for transparency and fairness, battling systemic corruption.

Spiritual Appeals and Calls for Unity

• Suspicion drives calls for urgent intervention, with many framing the restoration of democratic integrity as a moral and spiritual duty.
• Americans call for unity through “prayers for America” or a “return to God’s values,” intertwining of faith and political viewpoints.
• For many, questioning the 2020 election a civic duty and a moral imperative.
• This spiritual framing fosters a sense of righteous indignation, mobilizing supporters around a higher cause and reinforcing their commitment to truth and transparency.