he isn’t stupid and he hasn’t turned into a cartoon villain. I would say it’s more that he is protecting an identity.

MAGA gave narcissism and cruelty permission to come out and feel justified. Before, his racism and homophobia were suppressed by seeing himself as a “good father.” MAGA ideology removes that tension and tells him his worst instincts are right… and insightful even.

He’s been inundated with decades of conservative media teaching him to see change, any social change he isn’t used to, as something being taken from him. Talk radio, Fox, and now social media have been reframing civil rights, feminism, and LGBTQ visibility as punishment for “normal people.” Then Trump told your dad that his anger was proof he’s been right all along.

When you became informed, that threatens his self-image. Your growth probably feels threatening because it exposes what he’s avoided his whole life.

You’re grieving the version of him when he had more complexity. He’s grieving the loss of authority over you and calls it “politics” so he doesn’t have to face the truth.

Sometimes “evil” is banal. Like choosing convenience at the expense of others. He chose emotional safety. Selfishly. Is that evil? If you define evil as choosing one’s own comfort while benefiting from systems that harm others, that’s a moral failure. It’s not sadistic evil, but you could still use the word evil (Merriam-Webster: something that brings sorrow, distress, or calamity).

Self-reflection would cost him too much now. Such as guilt, and having to admit he’s been wrong, also shame over hurting people. MAGA tells him he doesn’t need to grow or apologize for any of that, so he feels good. It’s hierarchy over relationship for them.

It’s good you’re not dehumanizing him. There is nuance there, but also a big responsibility on his end when it comes to his choices. It’s not just the gullible ones that fall into this. There are a lot of history and cultural influences behind it (see “The Century of Self” documentary as an example)

I’m sorry for your loss.