Far-right influencers, who have long been ardent supporters of Donald Trump, are now turning against his 2024 campaign, criticizing its leadership and direction. Influential figures like white supremacist Nick Fuentes, activist Laura Loomer, and commentator Candace Owens have voiced their dissatisfaction, arguing that Trump needs new advisors to guide him toward more extreme positions, particularly on issues like race and immigration.
Nick Fuentes, who dined with Trump at Mar-a-Lago in 2022, has been particularly vocal. He recently expressed frustration on X (formerly Twitter), stating that while he still supports Trump, the campaign has been “hijacked by the same consultants, lobbyists, & donors that he defeated in 2016.” Fuentes has a significant following of over 390,000 on X and has used his platform to criticize the Trump campaign’s current strategy, particularly its distancing from hard-line initiatives like Project 2025. He has also targeted key figures in Trump’s campaign, calling for the removal of chief strategist Chris LaCivita and senior adviser Susie Wiles.
Laura Loomer, another far-right figure with a substantial online presence, has echoed Fuentes’ sentiments. With 1.2 million followers on X, Loomer recently criticized Trump’s surrogates as looking “weak” on television and emphasized that the campaign “needs to change FAST” if it hopes to succeed. Her comments highlight a growing discontent among far-right activists who feel that the campaign is not aggressive enough in its rhetoric and tactics.
Candace Owens, who boasts 5.4 million followers on X and has previously been hosted by Trump at the White House, also questioned the direction of the campaign on her podcast. Owens expressed uncertainty about who is “driving the MAGA bus,” further fueling speculation about internal disarray within Trump’s camp.
These criticisms from the far-right are in contrast to suggestions from more mainstream Republicans. Figures like former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley and former Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway have urged Trump to focus less on personal attacks and more on policy issues, particularly those related to Kamala Harris, Biden’s running mate. Even Senator Lindsey Graham, a longtime Trump ally, remarked that the campaign’s focus should be on policy rather than personal grievances.
Despite the mounting criticisms, Trump has shown little sign of shifting his strategy. His campaign continues to emphasize extreme positions, such as mass deportations and potential restrictions on medication abortion. However, the growing discontent among both far-right influencers and mainstream Republicans suggests that Trump’s campaign may face increasing challenges as it moves forward.
As the Washington Post reports, some within Trump’s campaign view the far-right influencers as a “noisy” distraction that could undermine efforts to bring fresh perspectives into the campaign. Despite the backlash, Trump has maintained that his campaign is performing well, citing strong poll numbers and expressing confidence in his team’s efforts.
