Alternativefacts.com exists and it's been redirected to the perfect site

A psychology term goes viral under a Trump presidency.
 By 
Marissa Wenzke
 on 
Alternativefacts.com exists and it's been redirected to the perfect site
Twitter lit up after Kellyanne  Conway referred to incorrect claims as "alternative facts." Credit: drew angerer/ Getty Images

The phrase "alternative facts" has lit up the internet since Kellyanne Conway infamously used it to describe the White House's version of Trump's sad inauguration crowd numbers.

While most people have read the phrase as synonymous with basic lies, it also has another meaning -- and a brilliant redirect to a Psychology Today page perfectly explains it.

If you visit alternativefacts.com, you'll be directed to an article on the site explaining the psychological phenomenon known as gaslighting.


You May Also Like

"Gaslighting is a tactic of behavior in which a person or entity, in order to gain more power, makes a victim question their reality," psychology expert Stephanie Sarkis writes. "It is a common technique of abusers, dictators, narcissists, and cult leaders. It is done slowly, so the victim doesn't realize how much they've been brainwashed."

In early December, a Teen Vogue editorial dived into how that method of manipulation is being used by the Donald Trump administration. "At the hands of Trump, facts have become interchangeable with opinions, blinding us into arguing amongst ourselves, as our very reality is called into question," it said. The piece went viral and sent off a wide-reaching discussion about gaslighting and what it means in the era of a Trump presidency.

So how does gaslighting happen? At alternativefacts.com, you can find out how to spot 11 signs of gaslighting. No. 1 on the list? "They tell you blatant lies."

CARD ID: 156585

"You know it's an outright lie. Yet they are telling you this lie with a straight face," Sarkis writes. "Why are they so blatant? Because they're setting up a precedent. Once they tell you a huge lie, you're not sure if anything they say is true. Keeping you unsteady and off-kilter is the goal." 

Blatant seems to be a fair word to describe the kind of lie being told by White House Press Sean Spicer when he said that Trump's inauguration saw the "largest audience to ever witness an inauguration, period" -- at least considering the photographic evidence to the contrary. To remedy the situation, Trump advisor Kellyanne Conway referred to it all as "alternative facts."

That pair of words sent off a Twitter firestorm, with many users pointing out what's psychologically troubling about saying something like "alternative facts" and how it feels kind of like, well, gaslighting.

CARD ID: 156580

CARD ID: 156574

CARD ID: 156578

CARD ID: 156577

CARD ID: 156575

CARD ID: 156579

Some experts also believe Trump is gaslighting the country.

Psychologist Bryant Welch, author of State of Confusion: Political Manipulation and the Assault on the American Mind, told NBC News that constant lies allow for a gaslighter to trick their victim into confused submission.

"If you make people confused, they are vulnerable. By definition they don't know what to do," Welch said, adding that Trump is doing this by attempting to discredit the press.

"It tells them to go ahead and hate this person who is delivering bad news. Then you begin to substitute your own news, your own version of reality," Welch said. "If Donald Trump can undercut America's trust in all media, he then starts to own them and can start to literally implant his own version of reality."

CARD ID: 156584

Mashable Image
Marissa Wenzke

Marissa is a real-time news intern at the LA office. She has a bachelor's degree in political science from UC Santa Barbara and a master's degree in journalism from Columbia University. She's a free spirit.

Mashable Potato

Recommended For You

Trending on Mashable
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 3, 2026
Connections game on a smartphone

Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 3, 2026
Wordle game on a smartphone


NYT Strands hints, answers for April 3, 2026
A game being played on a smartphone.

You can track Artemis II in real time as Orion flies to the moon
Victor Glover and Reid Wiseman piloting the Orion spacecraft
The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!