In political science, a reactionary or a reactionist is a person who holds political views that favor a return to the status quo ante—the previous political state of society—which the person believes possessed positive characteristics that are absent from contemporary society. As a descriptor term, reactionary derives from the ideological context of the left–right political spectrum. As an adjective, the word reactionary describes points of view and policies meant to restore a status quo ante.

Anti-intellectualism is a central tenet of reactionary movements. The truth literally doesn’t matter; it’s what is in their hearts that counts.

And what is in their hearts is a hatred for people who want to make the world a better place for everyone instead of just their sad, weird little tribe.