Most educated people know Trump for what he is. His talent lies in appealing to a socio-economic group with a sense of grievance, who want to belong. In effect, it's the personality cult of Trump, just like there has been with Stalin, Mao, Hitler and the Kims. He tells his followers what he knows they want to hear. Science, logic and facts are irrelevant.
What makes Trump so dangerous is his narcissism, which means he always thinks he is the smartest guy in the room. Frequently, he's not.