his narrative that he is the one true leader against the corrupt elites. To maintain his hold, he must ratchet up the polarization of politics to a sustained fever pitch. He must take more strident and uncompromising positions, over and over again. The aim is simple: to prove his mettle and whip up his supporters, he has to challenge his opponent on the field of battle. By doing so, he makes it appear as though society is irreconcilably at odds with itself, that there are sharp and deep rifts between his camp of true patriots and those who mean to harm it.
