The MAGA movement, once synonymous with Donald Trump, has grown so powerful that it may now be one of the former president’s biggest obstacles, according to a recent analysis by New York Times columnist Ezra Klein. Klein suggests that while Trump initiated the movement, it has since evolved into something that no longer aligns entirely with his personal views or control.
“The groundswell coalition that he started has evolved and developed its own issues and policies,” Klein wrote, highlighting the tension between Trump and the movement he helped create. As a result, Trump is gradually losing his grip on MAGA, which is becoming a “Frankenstein monster its creator has little control over.”
Klein explains that the distinction between Trump and the MAGA movement is significant. While Trumpism was once defined by Trump’s rhetoric and actions, the MAGA movement has taken on a life of its own. “Trumpism is whatever Trump says it is,” Klein stated. “But MAGA is whatever his movement becomes.”
An example of this growing divide is J.D. Vance, a key figure in the movement which, according to Klein, symbolizes the new MAGA — “esoterically ideological, deeply resentful, terminally online.” Unlike Trump, Vance lacks Trump’s flair for showmanship and connection with public sentiment, making him a “political liability” to Trump’s 2024 campaign.
One of the most significant points of tension between Trump and his movement is Project 2025, a policy initiative aimed at dismantling the old establishment and replacing it with loyalists. Originally associated with Trump, the initiative has since taken on a more extreme conservative agenda. Now, Trump is attempting to distance himself from it, but the movement continues to embody these more radical positions.
Klein noted, “The MAGA coalition—particularly its elected officials and Washington staffer class—has grown beyond Trump. It has more views on more issues than he does.” This widening gap between Trump and his own movement could ultimately be his downfall. Klein pointed out that while Trump once operated as a singular force, he can no longer run the same way in 2024.
“Trump’s problem in the 2024 election is that he can no longer run as if he is a man alone. Everyone knew Mike Pence did not represent Trumpism. But Trump chose Vance to be the heir of the MAGA movement.” As MAGA continues to grow beyond his control, Trump faces the challenge of a movement that might outpace him in the very election he seeks to dominate.