
Understanding the MAGA rift
From USSC Briefing Room by United States Studies Centre
December 22, 2025 · 34 min · Episode 90
About this episode
The episode discusses the emerging rifts within the MAGA movement and their implications.
Recently we have seen cracks forming within the MAGA (Make America Great Again) movement. We are seeing Republican members of Congress push back on issues, like the Epstein files or President Trump’s approach to Ukraine, in the most significant way since he took office in January. What is causing these rifts within the MAGA movement? Is MAGA whatever President Trump says it is? How are these tensions likely to play out? Non-Resident Senior Fellow Lester Munson joined Director of Engagement and Impact Mari Koeck to discuss these questions. Lester has held multiple positions on Capitol Hill and is based in DC, at the epicentre of these MAGA tensions.
People in this episode
Host: Mari Koeck
Guest: Lester Munson
Topics covered
- MAGA movement
- Republican Party
- political tensions
- Trump presidency
- Congress
- Ukraine
Keywords
- MAGA
- Republican
- Trump
- political rifts
- Congress
- Ukraine
- Lester Munson
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: MAGA, Republican, Capitol Hill
Places: DC
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