The fissures within President Donald Trump’s MAGA base are rapidly broadening into a widening gulf as supporters grow increasingly disillusioned by what they now describe as overt corruption, authoritarian leanings, and a pattern of breaking campaign pledges.
A telling example emerged from a caller on a CSPAN program hosted by Taylor Popielarz on Sunday, May 17, who characterized Trump as “a conman, a liar” and “the most corrupt president” in American history.
The caller, who introduced himself as Thomas from Hawaii, conceded that he had cast ballots for Trump on three separate occasions, but he now regrets doing so.
“It’s not easy for me to say this, but I think if I’m willing to speak openly about it in public, it could perhaps help others,” Thomas began before outlining how he’d harbored doubts for some time due to Trump’s troublesome business dealings prior to entering politics.
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“I now regret supporting him, and I should have known better,” the dismayed former MAGA supporter admitted.
“He’s making it crystal clear that he’s a con man, a liar, that he doesn’t keep his promises. He’s in office for himself, and he isn’t even attempting to mask his corruption anymore,” the caller continued.
But he did not stop there.
“So, unless every source of information you rely on comes from what I would call the right-wing propaganda-for-profit disinformation, media-industrial complex, he’s the worst president we’ve ever had, and he’s the most corrupt one we’ve ever seen,” Thomas said, acknowledging that admitting this would be incredibly difficult for Trump supporters.
Popielarz interjected at that moment, asking, “Thomas, if you don’t mind me interrupting, did you vote for Trump all three times?”
“Yes,” the disillusioned former Trump voter admitted.
“That’s quite revealing,” Popielarz remarked before inquiring, “What, or what event, broke the camel’s back this time? Was it the war, or something else?”
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“I don’t think there’s a single incident to point to; it’s been a gradual process, and it’s become glaringly obvious now,” the caller replied, pointing to Trump’s pledge to lower prices on his first day if reelected.
Costs for essentials such as food, fuel, energy, as well as vehicles and everyday goods, have surged, with gasoline prices rising more than 50 percent since Trump initiated his war on Iraq—a broken promise that many see as emblematic of his rule.
Trump had repeatedly sworn to keep the United States out of foreign entanglements. Since resuming the presidency in January 2026, he has launched airstrikes on seven countries and caused more than 150 deaths through unilateral strikes on “alleged” drug shipments in the Pacific and Caribbean waters.
And for many in his base, one of the most egregiously broken assurances is his pledge to release all Epstein-related files if reelected, a move he has refused despite legislative pressure.
“Now I grasp how someone like Adolf Hitler managed to manipulate millions; I never expected to witness such a thing again in my lifetime, yet it has happened,” he shockingly confessed.
Thomas pressed on, urging restraint and accountability for the President in any feasible way.
“At present, the only effective remedy is to vote for as many Democrats as possible, regardless of personal preference, to restore balance to our system of checks and balances … Congress is doing nothing to restrain him. He desires royal power, yet we’re letting him get away with it. We fought a Revolutionary War to avoid being ruled by a capricious king, the kind Trump aspires to be.”
Thomas also mentioned a group called LeavingMAGA.org, which provides communal support for Trump voters who feel betrayed by the president and may be too embarrassed to admit their mistake.
While many people welcome Trump supporters recognizing their error and turning against him, others feel no sympathy for anyone who chose him.
“Trump never presented himself as anything beyond what he is. His prejudices led him to back Donald,” a user on Threads observed.
Another user echoed the same sentiment, asking, “But what is the excuse for decades of not listening? This isn’t new. He’s been racist and corrupt for years.”
This skeptical commenter agreed, “This shows there are MAGA adherents who know what he’s like and still vote for him, so it’s less about ignorance and more about complicity and quiet approval.”
