The term “empathy” is one that was often thrown out during former Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign – one often villainized by the MAGA movement. Elon Musk, who has since been ousted from the current administration, referred to empathy as a quality of weakness in American society .
“The fundamental weakness of Western civilization is empathy, the empathy exploit,” Musk said. “… they’re exploiting a bug in Western civilization, which is the empathy response.”
Empathy, he said, has been “weaponized.”
Though Musk is wrong almost 100 percent of the time, he is right about one thing: empathy can be taken advantage of, and used a weapon. However, he underestimates its strength and ability to create permanent and positive change.
In a cultural landscape often confusing emotional sensitivity with fragility, a growing body of research suggests empathy is not only a powerful social tool – but one of the strongest human traits. Recent studies from psychology, neuroscience and leadership development reveal empathy – when understood and practiced with intention – fuels resilience, effective leadership and healthier relationships with those around us.
According to a 2019 Psychology Today article by Dr. Shawn M. Burn., empathy requires “deep insights and balanced emotions,” making it a trait that demands – not weakens – emotional control. Burn emphasizes that true empathy involves separating your own emotions from those of someone else, allowing for compassionate action without becoming overwhelmed.
“In short, readily taking the perspective of others and feeling other people’s distress makes you more likely to take responsibility for the welfare of others and act to help them,” she writes. “Empathic people counter the more selfish and ruthless people that are also among us. No doubt about it, we need empathic people in this sometimes cold, hard world.”
Meanwhile, neuroscientific research published in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) confirms that empathy activates brain regions like the insula and anterior cingulate cortex—areas responsible for emotional awareness and decision-making.
Researchers warn, however, that this biological wiring can become a “double-edged sword” if not regulated. High emotional resonance can lead to stress and burnout, especially in helping professions. Empathy is an incredibly strong emotion, one which can cripple even the strongest of humans. Still, with proper self-regulation, these same neural circuits drive what scientists call “prosocial behavior” – compassionate actions linked to better mental health and community cohesion.
Compassion and empathy also has been proven to be economically beneficial on many occasions. A 2023 Forbes article outlines how empathy is increasingly valued as a top leadership trait.
“Showing compassion has traditionally been misconstrued as a weakness or a sign that a leader can be steamrolled by their charges. It was believed that an authoritarian presence was necessary to maintain a tight ship and keep the team working consistently toward their goals,” the article reads. “However, great leaders understand that empathy is not a sign of weakness but a powerful tool for building trust, fostering collaboration, and driving organizational success. Contrary to the belief that leaders must be tough and unyielding, embracing empathy allows them to connect on a deeper level, inspire their teams and create a positive, more productive work environment.”
Psychologists and leadership coaches now agree: empathy is not about collapsing under the weight of others’ experiences. It’s about being strong enough to feel, while staying centered enough to act wisely. As the evidence grows, one thing becomes clear – empathy isn’t weakness. It’s strength with heart. And in today’s emotionally charged world, that kind of strength might be more vital than ever.
Examples of empathy as an American strength
There have been instances in the United States’ history where a leader’s empathy directly resulted in positive and permanent change.
President Teddy Roosevelt created the Progressive Party (also known as the “Bull Moose Party”) and ran for reelection after serving as president from 1901 through 1909. When he lost to Woodrow Wilson in 1912, he gave a powerful speech, where he said the government should be used to be “an efficient agency for the practical betterment of social and economic conditions throughout this land.”
“As a people we cannot afford to let any group of citizens or any individual citizen live or labor under conditions which are injurious to the common welfare,” he went on to say. “It is abnormal for any industry to throw back upon the community the human wreckage due to its wear and tear, and the hazards of sickness, accident, invalidism, involuntary unemployment, and old age should be provided for through insurance.”
Franklin D. Roosevelt took a unique approach to show empathy to Americans during the Great Depression – through radio broadcasts which were dubbed the “fireside chats.” In these radio shows, Roosevelt would vocalize the emotions a majority of Americans were feeling – he didn’t sugarcoat or condemn the people’s feelings, rather, Roosevelt used his platform as the president to let Americans know he not only saw their pain, but he felt it and wanted to give them one constant in a world that was always changing.
“Americans did not overcome economic depression and fascism because Roosevelt had the answers,” a Washington Post article by Jeremi Suri reads. “Instead, Roosevelt empowered the people to help themselves, as one would expect in a democracy. The president provided citizens with motivation and the means to make collective improvements, working together. Teamwork produced public goods – from schools and roads to trees and art – not the other way around.”
Empathy has pulled Americans through some of the toughest of times, and that’s something members of the current administration appear to have forgotten. Empathy is a trait in all great leaders – from civil rights leaders to the suffragettes, empathy has been the main catalyst in creating the America promised by the Founding Fathers. The only way to guarantee the United States adheres to its founding principles is to hold our leaders to the standard of their predecessors. The President of the United States must be empathetic to all, even those who don’t agree with them or support them. Ultimately, that’s what will continue to form a more perfect Union.