Both. The people in power understand it and are lying to the base so they genuinely dont get it.

There is a large segment of the population that wants a King to rule them. It's what makes sense to their brain, so they project.

Not only this but their dear leader keeps commenting on it like it’s literal. He’s actually said something to the effect of ‘They call me a king, idk, I don’t think I’m a king’.

I believe it’s all the reasons you listed, it’s combination idiocy and mixed with ‘pwn the liburuls’.

Can’t apply reason where there isn’t any to start with, I always say.

They just need to keep the propaganda machine running. It doesn't have to make sense for critical thinkers, as those are not the audience they want.