Patriotism, Narrative Warfare, and the Possibility of a Long-Planned National Awakening

I have another theory.

As anyone who has read my writings knows, I tend to be both skeptical and cynical at times. Today is no different. This time, however, the topic is patriotism.

I have long believed that the military's information and psychological operations capabilities—what some refer to as the "Ghost in the Machine" or aspects of fifth-generation warfare (5GW)—operate largely behind the scenes, particularly in the realm of narrative.

I also know that President Trump has been telling Americans for years that "THE BEST IS YET TO COME"

More recently, he has repeatedly spoken of America entering a "GOLDEN AGE."

With that in mind, I have been asking myself a question:

How did patriotism in America seem to rise so quickly and so strongly?

Was it truly random?

Was it entirely organic?

Or was at least some of it deliberately encouraged?

Personally, I do not believe in coincidences, especially not on a national or global scale.

Consider this possibility.

If patriotism in America had been declining for years, and if national unity and patriotic spirit were needed for events yet to come, then something significant would have to occur to restore that spirit.

Major criminal convictions of powerful figures might eventually accomplish that, but perhaps the timing is not right for such events.

So what if the strategy was to rebuild patriotism first?

The FIFA World Cup events provide an interesting example. These events were planned years in advance. Their arrival in the United States was not random.

Suddenly, Americans were seeing visitors from all over the world experiencing and celebrating America. Television, news outlets, social media platforms, and online conversations were saturated with images of international visitors enjoying what many called the "American experience."

One visitor even met with President Trump—a moment that some might dismiss as coincidence, while others might see as symbolic narrative reinforcement.

What effect did this have on the American psyche?

In my view, it reignited patriotism in a major way. It also influenced how the rest of the world viewed America. The narrative became one of pride, celebration, and renewed national identity.

Could narrative professionals—whether political strategists, media experts, or even elements of information warfare capabilities—have recognized and amplified this effect?

After all, shaping narratives and public perception is precisely what fifth-generation warfare theories suggest modern influence operations are designed to do.

Then came two enormous patriotic events:

Mount Rushmore celebrations and the Fourth of July celebrations in Washington, D.C. These were not ordinary commemorations.

They felt historic.

The military presence was highly visible.

The symbolism was unmistakable.

Americans had already been psychologically primed to embrace these events enthusiastically.

The reaction was extraordinary.

The online communities I participate in were beyond energized. If my experience reflects broader national sentiment, then patriotism may have reached levels I have not witnessed in my lifetime—and I am old enough to have seen many political and cultural cycles come and go.

Perhaps this was all organic. Perhaps it was not.

My theory is that President Trump and those around him understood that before asking Americans to face difficult, disruptive, or even painful truths in the future, they first needed to rebuild something essential: a shared sense of national identity, patriotism, and unity.

If that is true, then what we are witnessing now is not the end of a process, but the preparation phase.

And if that preparation was intentional, then the question becomes:

What comes next?