Many followers of Donald Trump and the Make America Great Again movement often make themselves known with bright red MAGA hats or giant Trump 2028 yard signs. But with skyrocketing gas prices, a widely unpopular war in Iran, and Trump's criticism of Pope Leo XIV, not all MAGA supporters are as open about their support — even if they still privately align with the movement. While a red MAGA hat is a definitive signal, there are quieter phrases that experts say MAGA-aligned individuals rely on to spread their message and beliefs. HuffPost spoke to left-leaning political content creators who see these phrases from followers and trolls daily. Here are the MAGA-coded phrases they identified and why they are so pervasive.
'I Don't Know About All That'
Anna Connelly, a political content creator based in Minnesota, said, “'I don't know about all that' is a very MAGA-coded phrase.” When someone shares facts on divisive topics, “you’ll always hear, ‘Oh, well, I don’t know about all that,’” she added. This response discredits the information immediately, often leading to subject changes or ending uncomfortable conversations. Connelly described it as “a lack of critical thinking,” noting that supporters repeat lines from Fox News and cannot go further when presented with contrary evidence.
'Traditional Family Values'
Jess Britvich, a political content creator based in Pittsburgh, said “traditional family values” is a MAGA-coded phrase heard repeatedly from conservative politicians and family members. On the surface, it seems harmless, but “when you actually dig deeper, it’s always cloaked in this anti-LGBTQ rhetoric” and “strict gender hierarchies,” Britvich explained. This phrase impacts policy, leading to restrictions on reproductive rights and anti-trans legislation. She added that it is often tied to white Christian nationalism, noting “the parallel between white Christian nationalism and MAGA is becoming a lot more overt.”
'DEI Hire' and 'Merit-Based System'
Britvich highlighted phrases like “DEI hire” and “merit-based system” as not-so-quiet dog whistles to disparage qualifications based on identity. Calling someone a DEI hire undermines their achievements, while “merit-based” subtly invokes the same idea. Britvich said, “I feel like that’s another one trying to undo all of the progress we’ve made in terms of civil rights.” The Trump administration has worked to end DEI programs, calling them “racially discriminatory,” despite research showing DEI programs help Black and brown communities, disabled folks, veterans, and women succeed.
'Marry a Provider'
Britvich noted the increasing prevalence of phrases like “marry a provider” on social media, often in response to women expressing burnout from work. Trends like “he might not know what’s under the tree, but he paid for it” blame feminism for exhaustion without addressing root causes like capitalism. Britvich said these statements advocate for a “strict version of patriarchy” and never push for paid family leave, universal child care, or better maternal health. Instead, they suggest giving up economic freedom.
'Protect Women'
Connelly said, “'Protect women' — if I hear that, I immediately think you’re talking about anti-trans stuff.” In contrast, “believe women” is used in progressive contexts about sexual harassment. “Protect women” actually means “don’t protect trans kids,” she added. Britvich cited a statistic from the National Women’s Law Center: over 70% of people believe they have never met a trans individual. This lack of direct experience makes it easier to “other” trans people through fear-based language repeated on Fox News and Instagram.
Fear-Based Language
Britvich explained that these MAGA-coded phrases resonate because they are “fear-based,” preying on emotions and lacking nuance. They portray fear of the “other,” a concept Trump has capitalized on with attacks on Somalis, Haitian immigrants, and trans people. Subtle phrases capitalize on this fear, impacting policy and public perception. “These grifters really know how to phrase things in a certain way [and] appear like they have some level of expertise when they really don’t,” Britvich said.
