I've been wondering a lot about how this happens. I experienced this opinion article as a fascinating and troubling description of the process. "Amoral leaders have a way of revealing the character of those around them. Sometimes what they reveal is inspiring... But more often, proximity to an amoral leader reveals something depressing...Accomplished people lacking inner strength can’t resist the compromises necessary to survive... It starts with your sitting silent while he lies, both in public and private, making you complicit by your silence... Next comes (the current US president) attacking institutions and values you hold dear — things you have always said must be protected and which you criticized past leaders for not supporting strongly enough. Yet you are silent..."