Photograph Source: SVG by Notwist. Symbol first illustrated by Thomas W. Benton on a 1970 poster – Public Domain
America’s counterculture has been flipped by the Trump Administration’s Gonzo Governance. In 1970, Charles Reich argued —first in a New Yorker article and then a book—that The Greening of America was taking place: The New Yorker article began
There is a revolution underway. It is not like revolutions of the past. It has originated with the individual and with culture, and if it succeeds it will change the political structure only as its final act. It will not require violence to succeed, and it cannot be successfully resisted by violence. It is now spreading with amazing rapidity, and already our laws, institutions, and social structures are changing in consequence. Its ultimate creation could be a higher reason, a more human community, and a new and liberated individual. This is the revolution of the new generation.
Writing in a transitional time of anti-war protests, ‘hippies,’ and the student revolt, Reich argued that young people were guided by Consciousness 3—“seeking restoration of the non-material elements of man’s existence, the elements like the natural environment and the spiritual that were passed by in the rush of material development.” This orientation supplanted the individualism and dominance of the consumerism, corporatism, and government control of Consciousness 1 and 2. The future, he argued, would stress more freedom, fewer economic restraints, and forbearance of a personal rather than a corporate-directed American Dream. For Wright and his readers this implied support for progressive ideas and policies supported by social science thinking regarding racial, ethnic, and gender inclusion, concern with government intrusion (e.g., the military draft and Vietnam War), environmental degradation (e.g., “earth day, ” global warming ) many of these preferences were already being realized, and were, to varying degrees, adopted over the next 50 years: The counterculture agenda had become the prevailing culture as institutional changes in religion, media, education, business, sports, and government resonated with many of these values.
But not everybody liked the new status quo. Consciousness 1 and 2 were waiting in the wings to enter center stage under the direction of Donald Trump. The status quo, especially as overseen by the institutional order guided by the federal government that provided more individual choices (e.g., sexuality, abortion, ethnic and racial inclusion), was regarded as corrupt, and contrary to the refurbished dusty narrative of the “real America” promulgated by corporate interests, one that was degraded by liberal thinking and state supported insolence. A new counterculture was called for.
Trump and his followers promised a right-wing counterculture that challenged long-held norms and taken-for-granted assumptions about governance. They offered a Gonzo Governance agenda to upend principles, entrenchments, knowledge, perspectives, and facts that govern the modern world. The Trump Administration’s policies, executive actions, and legislative proposals are contrary to fundamental principles of everyday life grounded in cultural and practical logics of physical science, religion, social science and history. I note a few examples.
Science/Medical Science
The Trump Administration continues to deny basic scientific procedures, principles, and findings about the efficacy 
and safety of numerous vaccines, cutting research funds to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). He has also appointed non-scientists to important medical oversight posts, including Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHS).
Physical Science
Trump officials, including most Republican representatives, deny that Co2 (carbon dioxide) is harmful to the environment, and that human/industrial/auto-emissions damage our atmosphere in ways that contribute to global warming and climate change that affects sea level rise, weather patterns, agriculture, etc. This political belief is supported by Congressional leaders who have advanced college degrees, including law, and know about this basic chemical process and other natural science effects and principles from their studies. An exception to the disregard of basic principles of physical science involves rocketry, weapons, and armaments, which Trump officials support because this aligns with interest in war-making and foreign policy prowess.
Social Science/Criminal Justice
Despite decades of research documenting the harmful effects of racial/ethnic/gender discrimination on opportunities of minority groups, including women, Trump officials attack and negate policies and programs that combat prejudice and discrimination as “woke policies,” denigrating—and outlawing– diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) measures and initiatives in the military, as well as mandating that these be halted by universities and many businesses that receive federal funding. Moreover, decades of research shows that Black and Hispanic groups are disproportionately treated unfairly by criminal justice agencies, including the courts and prisons. Further, even though it is well-documented that migrant groups have lower criminal records than native populations, Trump officials falsely claim that they are criminals and should be deported even though they may be in the country legally, e.g., as Green Card holders, awaiting asylum hearings, etc.
Mathematics
President Trump repeatedly makes statements with wrong figures and “facts,” but one of the most egregious is his misuse of percentages. Regarding drug reductions on a website (Trump RX), he said: “I negotiated directly with drug companies and foreign nations… to slash prices on drugs and pharmaceuticals by as much as 400%, 500%, and even 600%”. Of course, this would mean that drug companies would be paying consumers, but his protégé Robert F. Kennedy, argued that the President “has a different way of calculating.” Kennedy tried to defend the erroneous claim during a Senate hearing: “there are two ways of calculating it”. He claimed, “You could say it’s an 80 percent reduction… Or you could say it’s a 1,000 percent reduction. You could say whatever you want”.
Religion
President Trump has cast himself as Jesus in various Truth Social postings, Vice President Vance, and Secretary of Defense Hegseth have disavowed religious experts—including Pope Leo XIV—in arguing that Biblical scripture supports warriors in wars. The Pope rebuked U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for using Christian rhetoric to justify the war in Iran, stating God rejects prayers from leaders “whose hands are full of blood”. The Pope emphasized that Jesus rejects violence, contradicting Hegseth’s calls for “overwhelming violence” in the name of God. Hegseth dismissed the criticism, saying “the pope’s gonna do his thing.” The Pope emphasized that Jesus rejects violence, contradicting Hegseth’s calls for “overwhelming violence” in the name of God. Hegseth dismissed the criticism, saying “the pope’s gonna do his thing.” Vance added that the Pope should “be careful” when he talks about theology.”
Domestic and International Law
As the top elected official in the United States, President Trump is expected to follow and respect the law. The President has issued numerous illegal Executive Orders, e.g., birthright citizenship, election administration, firing federal employees, Inspectors General firings, sanctioning officials of the International Criminal Court (ICC), and illegal tariffs. In addition, several of his orders have violated international law, e.g., invading Venezuela, ordering the military to kill more than 200 people in international waters, and starting an unprovoked war with Iran.
Civility and Profanity in Public Discourse
Finally, while cultural tastes are clearly changing, elected representatives and officials are still expected to use a modicum of decorum, taste, and civility in carrying out their duties. While occasional “open mic” pickups of profane comments are often excused, publics still disapprove of blatant disregard of norms about public profanity. Donald Trump has violated this norm repeatedly in ridiculing opponents and journalists with nasty nick names, e.g., Sleepy Joe, Crooked Joe, Pocahantas, Da Nang Dick, Crooked Hillary, Big Fat Slob, Maggot Hagerman, Fake Tapper etc. USA reports that Trump cursed more than 1,700 times during his 2024 campaign alone. Perhaps his most pernicious public profanity was posted on Truth Social castigating Iranian officials for not cooperating with the President’s terms to end the war with Iran: “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!!” he wrote on his social media platform Truth Social. “Open the Fuckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah.”
The clash of political power and cultural preferences remains. The counterculture of the 1970s was more nuanced and never had the support from political leadership that Trump has leveled against established norms and policies of the last 50 years. Reich’s optimism about fundamental transformations of American culture was met with political and rhetorical opposition. And, while the Trump Administration’s negative policies and harsh rhetoric have produced important domestic judicial, political and foreign policy political changes, polls show that most Americans do not approve of the Trump Administration’s efforts to change American culture. Nevertheless, the counterculture of the 1970s altered many taken-for-granted assumptions about personal relationships and social responsibility. It remains an open question of how sustainable Trump’s Gonzo Governance will be.
