A prominent right-wing media personality, who received a presidential pardon from Donald Trump for his role in the January 6 Capitol attack, has launched a blistering public critique, declaring the president is 'fading' and can no longer 'lie his way around reality'.
From Supporter to Critic: Shroyer's Scathing Verdict
Owen Shroyer, the former host of 'The War Room' on Alex Jones's Infowars platform, delivered his harsh assessment following President Trump's 18-minute year-end address from the White House Diplomatic Reception Room. Shroyer, who served a two-month prison sentence in 2023 for illegally entering a restricted area during the Capitol riots, took to social media platform X to call it the president's 'worst speech yet'.
'He's stuttering. Confidence fading. Can't lie through reality anymore,' Shroyer wrote. The 36-year-old, once a staunch Trump ally, added: 'Never heard Trump like this... Not as comfortable or charismatic as he was last night. Very telling. His base has turned. He knows it. Ego damaged. Swagger lost.'
Dissecting the Presidential Address and the Backlash
In his solo speech, President Trump spoke forcefully, at times appearing angry while squinting at the teleprompter. He delivered a rapid series of claims, squarely blaming his predecessor, Joe Biden, for the nation's problems. Trump asserted he 'inherited a mess,' citing 'the worst inflation in 48 years' and an 'unaffordable' cost of living. On immigration, he claimed the US faced an invasion of 25 million criminals due to Biden's 'open border' policies.
Shroyer's rebuttal was swift and pointed. 'He has to start by bashing Biden because he needs a fall guy,' he wrote. He challenged Trump's claims of fighting corruption and special interests, arguing 'they bought him.' Shroyer also took aim at the president's economic optimism, stating: 'He’s now talking about the affordability crisis, which he called a hoax just two weeks ago. He keeps talking about how great the economy is as if Americans don't know they're struggling financially.'
Poll Numbers and a Warning of a 'Storm Approaching'
In a nearly 10-minute follow-up video on X, Shroyer described the speech as 'awkward, clanky and very off-putting'. He argued that Trump's declining poll numbers are real and significant, referencing a new NPR/PBS News/Marist poll which found only 36 percent of Americans feel Trump is doing a good job—the lowest rating of his presidency.
'What I think has happened is the reality has finally caught up to Trump. That much of his base has turned on him,' Shroyer warned his audience. He declared the last ten days 'the worst in Trump's presidency and definitely the worst in the second term,' adding: 'So get ready for a whirlwind in the next three weeks because the storm is approaching.'
This public fracture follows Shroyer's departure from Infowars in September after a behind-the-scenes disagreement with Alex Jones, who reportedly felt Shroyer had become 'too anti-Trump'. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Shroyer's criticisms.
