Populism as a vernacular practice is exemplified by Rafael Trujillo, known as the "Father of the Nation." Born in 1891 and assassinated in 1961, Trujillo was a dictator who ruled the Dominican Republic for a prolonged period. He employed brutal strategies, including abductions, torture, and mass killings, to instill fear and coerce citizens into supporting him. Simultaneously, he presented a facade of "generosity" by performing acts of kindness, such as providing aid to the poor and distributing basic necessities, framing them as grand gestures. This combination of fear and perceived closeness made it nearly impossible for people to disobey him.