Is Trump Betraying MAGA?

by Constantin von Hoffmeister

Constantin von Hoffmeister reports on Nick Fuentes, who questions what MAGA has become, given Trump’s recent campaign moves, including threats to bomb Iran, promises of green cards to foreign students, the hiring pledge for Nikki Haley, choosing a CIA-backed VP, and disavowing Project 2025 loyalists.

Nick Fuentes, leader of the popular patriotic movement America First, has raised serious concerns about the direction of Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign.

In recent months, the Trump campaign has made a series of decisions that are worrisome to those who championed the original “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) movement. Once a powerful force for populism and American nationalism, the campaign now seems to be straying from its core principles, leaving many wondering what has become of the movement that once captivated millions.

One of the most alarming developments is Trump’s renewed willingness to engage in military interventionism, as evidenced by his threats to bomb Iran. This stance starkly contrasts with the non-interventionist platform that was a hallmark of his 2016 campaign. Back then, Trump criticized the endless wars of the Bush and Obama administrations, promising to put America first by avoiding costly foreign entanglements. The recent saber-rattling toward Iran suggests a return to the neoconservative policies that MAGA supporters once rejected.

Trump’s promise to offer green cards to foreign students is another departure from the original MAGA agenda. The movement has always been about putting American workers first, ensuring that they have access to the best jobs and opportunities. Granting green cards to foreign students undermines this goal by prioritizing the interests of foreign nationals over those of American citizens. It is a move that aligns more with the globalist agenda that MAGA was created to oppose.

The pledge to hire Nikki Haley, a figure closely associated with the Republican establishment, is yet another troubling sign. Haley, who has a history of promoting interventionist foreign policies and aligning with corporate interests, does not represent the populist ideals of the original MAGA movement. Her inclusion in the campaign’s future plans signals a shift away from the anti-establishment stance that once defined Trump’s appeal.

Fuentes finds the selection of a vice-presidential candidate with ties to the CIA and the Never-Trump movement to be especially troubling. He views this decision as a direct insult to the grassroots supporters who were instrumental in Trump’s 2016 victory. Fuentes argues that the MAGA movement was founded on rejecting the deep state’s influence, and by aligning with a figure representing those forces, Trump risks alienating the very base that made him successful.

Finally, the disavowal of Project 2025 loyalists marks a significant departure from the original vision of MAGA. Project 2025 was designed to ensure that Trump’s populist policies would continue to shape the future of America. By distancing himself from those who are committed to this vision, Trump is signaling a shift away from the long-term goals of the movement.

The question now is: What has MAGA become? The Trump campaign’s recent actions suggest a troubling drift away from the populist, America-first principles that defined the movement. If these trends continue, the MAGA movement may find itself transformed into something unrecognizable to the millions of Americans who once rallied behind it.

The original “Make America Great Again” movement was about more than just economic slogans; it was a call to rebuild and renew the nation by addressing real challenges and restoring a sense of national pride and identity. Now, however, Trump’s rhetoric has become generic, focusing on broad themes like the economy and freedom, as if America were nothing more than a giant consumer hub. This shift overlooks the fact that Americans are a people with a shared culture and history, not just consumers in a marketplace.

On August 9, Fuentes stated on X, “Tonight I declared a new Groyper War against the Trump campaign. We support Trump, but his campaign has been hijacked by the same consultants, lobbyists, & donors that he defeated in 2016, and they’re blowing it. Without serious changes we are headed for a catastrophic loss.”