Over the past few months, right-wing media figures like Owens have broken with Trump on a number of different issues, including the Epstein files and the administration’s intervention in Venezuela. But it appears the rift between the MAGA media coalition has reached the point of no return after the president threatened to destroy “an entire civilization” in Iran this week.
“The 25th Amendment needs to be invoked,” Owens wrote on X Tuesday. “He is a genocidal maniac. Our Congress and military need to intervene. We are beyond insane.”
Owens is one of several right-wing media figures calling for Trump’s removal. Former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene also called for invoking the 25th Amendment, calling Trump’s actions in Iran “evil and madness.” Alex Jones urged Trump to be ousted on his Infowars program Tuesday, asking one guest, “How do we stick the 25th Amendment in his ass?” On an episode of Joe Rogan’s podcast last week, comedian Theo Vaughn, who hosts Trump on his show in 2024, called the US and Israel “fucking terrorists.” “It’s disgusting on every level,” former Fox News pundit Tucker Carlson said during his show on Monday, referring to Trump’s recent Truth Social post about Iran. Red Pill streamer Sneekko wrote “I miss Joe Biden” on X last week.
This pushback from prominent right-wing figures has further fractured the MAGA media coalition; Seemingly in response, a handful of pro-Trump veterans have called on the Justice Department to investigate American influencers for taking foreign money without disclosing it. Conservative activist Laura Loomer called Owens’ posts “the most obvious foreign influence operation ever” before urging a DOJ investigation on Tuesday.
Candace Owens responded to Loomer on Wednesday, posting, “The DOJ can investigate me all they want, Larry—they won’t find anything.”
Jack Posobiec, a prominent promoter of the Pizzagate conspiracy theory, echoed Loomer’s call for an investigation. Former Turning Point USA contributor Benny Johnson wrote on X that he would “welcome” an investigation. (In 2024, the Justice Department alleged that Tenet Media, an online media company that produced shows for Johnson and other high-profile influencers, was largely funded by the Russian state-backed news network RT. Johnson, whom the U.S. government has not accused of wrongdoing, issued a statement at the time denying awareness of the alleged Russian influence scheme and portraying himself as the victim.)
During Trump’s second term, the administration has frequently worked with creators to push their messages online. Last fall, the Pentagon revoked press credentials from mainstream outlets, and replaced them with creators like Loomer and Cam Higbee. Although many of these creators have attended recent Pentagon press briefings, the White House has not been in touch to convey the message about the war in Iran.
“There is no one,” a source familiar with the Republican influence pipeline told WIRED about the administration not reaching out to lawmakers about Iran. “The online authority was not helpful and there was nothing that was going to change that. The best thing they could hope for is silence.”
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