Key conservative critics of President Donald Trump are laying the groundwork for a potential third-party movement, aiming to challenge the Republican establishment. This initiative took shape over the weekend during a gathering at Tucker Carlson’s estate in Maine. The event, attended by figures like Rep. Thomas Massie and Marjorie Taylor Greene, was documented in a photo posted by Greene. The focus of the discussion was a potential independent presidential campaign centered on reducing U.S. military involvement abroad.
In her online post, Greene expressed disappointment with Trump, stating, “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.”
Joe Kent, who previously served in Trump’s national security team and also attended the Maine meeting, explained that the group aimed to organize their collective opposition to the ongoing conflict in Iran. Speaking on “The Young Turks,” he noted the complexity and challenges of launching a third-party candidacy. “Running as a third-party candidate is challenging. Not impossible, but it is very challenging,” Kent explained, emphasizing the need for a new system to address their concerns.
Initially, Carlson, Greene, and Massie supported Trump in the 2024 election. However, they eventually diverged from Trump, particularly as his administration continued military collaborations with Israel in the Middle East. Their dissatisfaction was further fueled by Trump’s stance against releasing documents related to Jeffrey Epstein’s investigation.
The new movement’s leadership remains unclear. Participants at the Maine gathering encouraged Carlson to pursue a presidential run in 2028, but he declined. “Hopefully he wakes up one day and Tucker says he’s going to run,” Kent remarked.
Carlson and Massie did not respond to inquiries, and Greene declined to comment.
The hurdles for third-party and independent candidates are significant, including diverse state-specific requirements for ballot access. Historical campaigns have struggled to match the financial resources of the two primary political parties.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s independent 2024 campaign serves as a recent example, which concluded before Election Day when Kennedy endorsed Trump. His campaign was marked by low polling numbers and legal challenges in multiple states.
Kent highlighted that the proposed third-party campaign in 2028 would largely bypass domestic issues, focusing instead on anti-interventionist policies. “I think it is having a very, very simple platform, and it’s acknowledging upfront, like, we are going to disagree on a lot of domestic policy and a lot of social issues,” he said, arguing that the president’s influence in these areas is limited. “We do agree that we don’t want Israel dictating our foreign policy. We don’t want any more foreign wars,” he added.
During his recent show, Carlson did not indicate participation in any political endeavors or endorse a candidate for 2028. Instead, he presented a monologue outlining his vision for America, which included promoting family growth, ending immigration, and advocating for healthier eating habits. He also condemned Trump and criticized Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for his role in the Iran conflict, referring to him with derogatory language.
Lisa Kashinsky, Alec Hernandez, and Sam Benson contributed to this story.
