Richard Hanania, Three-Time Trump Voter, Expresses Regret and Criticizes MAGA Movement

Richard Hanania, a prominent right-wing political commentator and founder of the Center for the Study of Partisanship and Ideology (CSPI), has publicly expressed regret over his past support for Donald J. Trump, despite reportedly voting for him three times. This evolving stance has notably confused some observers, as highlighted by a recent tweet from user @sp6r_underrated, which stated, "Richard Hanania voted three times to make the Donald J. Trump President. I'm continually confused by the Hanania credulity a subset of liberals, usually highly educated, white males." Hanania's journey from a vocal Trump supporter to a critic of the MAGA movement marks a significant, if complex, shift in his political commentary.

Known for his influential writings on topics like diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), Hanania has maintained a controversial public profile. He previously wrote for alt-right and white supremacist publications under the pseudonym "Richard Hoste," a past he has since acknowledged and disavowed, stating he now finds those beliefs "repulsive." Despite this disavowal, some journalists and critics have questioned the sincerity of his change, pointing to other controversial statements he has made under his own name.

However, Hanania has recently become a vocal critic of the "second Trump administration" and the broader MAGA movement. In an essay titled "What I Got Wrong about Trump," he detailed his profound disillusionment, admitting that his previous predictions about a second Trump term were largely incorrect. He candidly told The New York Times that "the resistance libs were mostly right about" Trump, a significant reversal from his earlier positions.

His critique extends to specific policy decisions and appointments, citing concerns over economic policies, proposed cuts to scientific funding, and perceived attacks on the rule of law. While Hanania's ideas significantly influenced Trump's policies on DEI, particularly the repeal of Executive Order 11246, he now expresses dismay at what he views as a lack of merit in appointments like Kash Patel and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. He argues that the movement has prioritized loyalty over competence, leading to a "low human capital" environment that undermines effective governance.

Hanania attributes his misjudgment to underestimating the extent to which the Trump movement had become a "cult of personality," where loyalty to the leader overshadowed conservative ideology. This broader critique, focusing on governance quality and the nature of the MAGA movement, may contribute to the "credulity" observed by some liberals. His current criticisms of Trump, despite his own right-wing leanings, find common ground with concerns from across the political spectrum, potentially making his views more palatable to those who previously dismissed him.