Several prominent critics of President Donald Trump met on Saturday to discuss launching a new political party, according to a social media post from former Georgia Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene.
The meeting brought together podcaster Tucker Carlson, outgoing Kentucky Republican Congressman Thomas Massie, former Director of the United States National Counterterrorism Center Joe Kent, and Greene, all of whom were once Trump allies before becoming detractors of the president.
Greene wrote that the group had supported Trump because he promised no more foreign wars, but that he had betrayed them. She said their commitment is to "America First for all Americans, right, left, and center," adding that "the movement has begun."
The gathering was also joined by family members, including Massie's wife, Carolyn Grace Moffa, and Greene's new husband, Brian Glenn. The group met at Carlson's cabin in Maine, sitting at a wooden table with matching mugs and a plate of cookies, in a room decorated with vintage shotguns, an American flag and a chandelier made of taxidermy deer antlers.
Massie shared Greene's post with the caption, "This meeting will not be televised," even though the cabin is where Carlson films his podcast.
Mixed reaction online
Right-wing media figure Alex Jones shared the post and called the group "a great group of Americans." Another commenter wrote that "the Avengers have assembled."
Others criticized the group. Right-wing journalist Laura Loomer said all seven belonged on a government watch list, calling them traitors to America and anti-Trump operatives amplified by foreign adversaries. Podcaster Meghan McCain, daughter of the late Senator John McCain, asked why everyone in the photo looked like they were at "Patricia's Sunset Cocktails." Independent journalist Walter Kurt criticized Greene directly, asking why anyone would look to her as a movement leader after she quit Congress mid-term to get married in Las Vegas and go on a media tour.
A falling out with Trump
Greene resigned from Congress in January as her conflict with Trump intensified. She grew close to Massie after pushing the Trump administration last year to release its files on Jeffrey Epstein, an effort that drew the president's scorn. Trump has since referred to Greene as a "traitor," among other nicknames.
Greene and Massie recently traveled to Costa Rica together along with their spouses.
Massie, a seven-term Republican congressman from Kentucky, was defeated in a primary election in May by Trump-backed challenger Ed Gallrein.
Gallrein, a retired Navy SEAL and farmer, was selected by Trump's political operation to run against Massie after the congressman pushed for release of the Epstein files and opposed Trump's tax legislation, known as the One Beautiful Bill, last summer.
Kent, a former counterterrorism staffer under Trump, resigned from the administration over the war in Iran. He drew attention when he appeared on Carlson's show days after leaving his post.
Separately, Greene and Glenn married this week in Las Vegas, exchanging vows on Tuesday night at the Bellagio's Terrazza di Sogno terrace overlooking the resort's fountains and the Strip. The couple kept their wedding plans private, holding a family-only ceremony after obtaining a marriage license just a week earlier.
