Prominent former allies of Donald Trump have gathered to hint at a new political movement, accusing the president of betraying them. The meeting, held at Tucker Carlson's cabin in Maine on Saturday, included Marjorie Taylor Greene, Thomas Massie, and Joe Kent, all of whom have turned against Trump, chiefly over the Iran war.
Meeting and Message
Sharing a picture from the gathering online, Greene wrote: 'We said no more foreign wars, and we meant it and supported Donald Trump because he made that promise. But he's betrayed us all. Our commitment is America First for all Americans, right, left, and center. The movement has begun.'
The group has not formally announced a new political party or revealed what shape the movement could take, but the staged gathering has fueled speculation about a fresh organisation aimed at voters who believe Trump has abandoned his 'America First' agenda.
Details of the Gathering
Carlson sat at the head of a wooden table as the group posed with matching mugs and a plate of cookies. An American flag stood in the corner, vintage weapons hung from the walls, and a chandelier made from deer antlers dangled overhead. They were joined by Greene's new husband, Brian Glenn, and Massie's wife, Carolyn Grace Moffa.
Massie reposted the picture with the caption: 'This meeting will not be televised.' That joke came despite the gathering taking place where Carlson records his hugely popular podcast, so the very public photograph meant it wasn't exactly secret either.
Reasons for Opposition
Greene, Carlson, Massie, and Kent have all criticised Trump over the war in Iran, revolving around claims that the conflict broke the president's campaign commitment to keep the US out of further foreign wars. That non-interventionist message formed a prominent part of Trump's campaign during the 2024 election.
Kent resigned as director of the National Counterterrorism Center in March because he opposed the conflict. He appeared on Carlson's show shortly afterwards to explain his decision and criticise the administration's case for military action.
Greene and Massie had already publicly fallen out with Trump over the release of government files connected to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. They supported efforts to force the Department of Justice to disclose the material, placing them on the wrong side of an increasingly bitter dispute with the sitting president.
Fallout and Reactions
Trump subsequently branded Greene a 'traitor' and turned his political operation against Massie. Greene resigned from Congress in January as her relationship with her former ally continued to collapse. Massie, a seven-term Kentucky congressman, was defeated in May's Republican primary by Trump-backed challenger Ed Gallrein.
Some figures on the right welcomed the apparent anti-Trump rebellion. Controversial radio host Alex Jones called those in the photo 'a great group of Americans', while another supporter declared: 'The Avengers have assembled.' Others within the MAGA movement were considerably less impressed. Right-wing activist Laura Loomer demanded that all seven people in the picture be placed on a government watch list, adding: 'Every person in this photo is a traitor to America and an anti-Trump operative amplified by foreign adversaries.'
Meghan McCain, the daughter of late Republican senator John McCain, went in a different direction, asking: 'Why does everyone in this photo look like they're at Patricia's Sunset Cocktails?' Podcaster Walter Kirn challenged Greene's credentials to lead the revolt, writing: 'You quit Congress in the middle of your term to get married in Vegas and go on a media tour. Why would anyone look to you as the leader of a movement?'
Greene married Glenn in a private ceremony in Las Vegas last week. Whether the Maine gathering produces an actual party remains unclear, but the picture has made one thing fairly obvious: Trump's former supporters-turned-detractors aren't planning on keeping quiet about their misgivings.
