09/02/2026
Since Donald Trump’s first presidential campaign a decade ago, “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) has evolved from a slogan into an identity, one that claims to center conservative, “America first” values and relies on lies and conspiracy theories to stay afloat. And while Maga has survived impeachments, indictments and a lost election, some devotees are walking away – and doing so loudly.
Rich Logis, a former Trump campaign volunteer, left Maga in 2022, publishing a public apology to help others see that it was OK to challenge the movement. The overwhelming response led him to found the non-profit Leaving Maga, a network of support groups and meetups for people to unpack their role in bolstering Trump’s platform. Logis said he doesn’t persuade people to leave; he just gives them a place to land when they do. The group’s billboard campaign, now running in 27 states, is built around a simple message: “Having doubts? You are not alone.”
Thousands of people have since found the organization and connected with others who have left through group chats and in-person meet-ups. When they pull away from Maga, many are left reckoning with their childhoods, their value systems, their relationships and faith, Logis said. They question why they were vulnerable to hateful rhetoric and sought a place to belong. They also face criticism from all sides. Maga dismisses them as sellouts and traitors for leaving, while some on the left argue that people who once amplified conspiracy theories – and harmed vulnerable communities in the process – don’t deserve a second act. But Leaving Maga wants to be a bridge when people are ready to finally step away.
Read: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/01/former-maga-supporters-trump?
