> No, it's a cynical marketing exercise designed to make people think that.

The grandparent comment is referring to MAGA the demographic, not MAGA the political machine. How could the political machine have sold hats (or immigration policy, or tariffs) if no one in the broader movement wanted to buy them?

Marketing. They've got to sell the idea somehow.

Otherwise how would a serial failed businessman get so much traction? It's all marketing.

Trump did not create the support for border control and immigration enforcement among the American general public. He won because these policies were third rails for anyone involved in establishment politics, whose donors rely on illegal immigrants to undermine organized labor.

This is the problem with USA politics.

I'm talking about one groups (apparent) motivations, you're talking about your perspective of the groups leadership.