MAGA, the part of the US Republican Party centered around President Donald Trump, is perhaps not the most influential force in the world today, but it is certainly the most visible. And despite its conservative nature, it is quite revolutionary. Ukrainians should know more about this conservative force, which is reshaping not only the political reality of the United States but also global geopolitics.
MAGA as an anti-systemic challenge.
The US Republican Party has long ceased to be monolithic. Traditionally, at least two major wings have coexisted within it. The first was the classical conservatives or “Reaganites” who favored an active foreign policy, military force, and economic liberalism. The second was religious conservatives, in particular evangelicals, who emphasized Christian values and their influence on public policy.
However, over the past two decades, another current has emerged within the party. It combines radical conservatism, isolationism, distrust of elites, and outright skepticism about the global order. It was from this environment that the MAGA movement grew, proclaiming a simple but emotionally powerful formula: “America First”.
Revolution against the establishment
MAGA is not just a political program. It is a form of rebellion against the system, the establishment, and the established rules of the game. Donald Trump has managed to ride the wave of mass disillusionment with the federal government, traditional politicians, and the media. It was on this wave that he came to power in 2016 and retained political influence in the following years, including his return to the White House in 2025.
Importantly, such anti-systemic movements are not unique to the United States. They are emerging in many countries as a reaction to globalization, economic inequality, migration, and a sense of losing control over one’s own future. MAGA has become the American form of this global trend. After all, Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s political star has also risen under the slogans of fighting the old elites.
Origin and ideology of MAGA
The name of the movement comes from Donald Trump’s slogan “Make America Great Again.” Although Ronald Reagan had previously used a similar phrase, it was Trump who filled it with new meaning. In November 2012, after the defeat of Republican Mitt Romney in the presidential election, Trump decided to make this slogan the basis of his own political project, and in the summer of 2015 he officially launched the campaign that launched the MAGA movement. This year was the birth of MAGA.
MAGA is based on the belief that the United States has lost its “greatness” due to external and internal influences. External influences include globalization, international agreements, and commitments to allies. The internal one is migration, multiculturalism, and liberal social policy. The response to these challenges was the America First doctrine, which envisages economic protectionism, tough immigration policy, and an appeal to “traditional American values.”
At the same time, some of MAGA’s rhetoric has been accompanied by anti-Muslim slurs and harsh statements about liberal opponents. Liberal critics from the Democratic Party call MAGA’s views “sexist, homophobic, racist,” etc., but MAGA conservatives are not concerned. They believe that “liberals have already done enough damage to the country to end their legacy decisively.”
Conflict with the media and the culture of conspiracy
One of the key features of MAGA is a deep distrust of traditional media. Supporters of the movement are convinced that the mainstream media is either biased or deliberately working in favor of political opponents. Opponents accuse them of creating an environment conducive to the spread of fake news and conspiracy theories.
Some of the most famous examples include claims about Barack Obama’s alleged “non-white” ancestry, the idea of a “great replacement” of white Americans with immigrants, or accusations of Democratic election fraud in 2020. These narratives have not only radicalized the electorate, but also undermined trust in democratic institutions.
Why the Trump movement has become a defining force in the United States
Trump quickly became a central figure in the Republican camp. His support turned into a key resource for any candidate seeking to win the election. During his first term, he actively used executive orders to fulfill his promises to MAGA voters. These included attempts to restrict immigration from Muslim countries, the construction of a wall on the border with Mexico, trade wars with China and the EU, tax cuts, and the appointment of ultra-conservative Supreme Court justices.
Today, approximately 40-50% of Republicans identify themselves as MAGA supporters. This forces other politicians in the party to either remain silent or partially adapt to Trump’s radical agenda.
MAGA is ideologically different from other Republicans. MAGA is clearly religiously conservative. About 60% of its supporters consider themselves evangelicals. They are less tied to the Republican Party as an institution and much more to Trump’s personality. The majority is ready to support even a third party if it is led by him. In addition, MAGA Republicans take a tougher stance on Democrats and reject compromise as weakness.
A separate feature is the extraordinary personal loyalty to Trump. Criminal cases against him not only do not reduce support, but are often perceived as evidence of “persecution by the system.”
Pragmatism and isolationism
Sometimes MAGA supporters make statements that are shocking to Ukrainians, but from a pragmatic point of view, some of MAGA’s arguments have an internal logic. The United States is geographically separated by oceans, and a significant number of voters do not understand why their country should spend hundreds of billions of dollars on the problems of other regions of the world. For them, abstract formulas such as “protecting democracy” or “deterring authoritarianism” are not enough.
MAGA supporters demand clear and understandable explanations. For example, what specific benefits the United States will receive from the next aid package to Ukraine. They are interested in results here and now, not in promises of strategic advantages in decades to come. Giving money for an abstract fight against Russian influence, where there is no clear result, seems short-sighted to many of them.
This approach combines pragmatism, resentment, and deep distrust. For some, this looks like populism, but in reality it is a mixture of populism, anger, and a sense that voters have been misled by catchphrases for years. Of course, we cannot rule out the influence of Russian bot farms, which helped create such convenient isolationist views among some Americans.
MAGA also actively uses social media as an alternative to traditional media. It is there that parallel information realities are formed, in which official institutions have little or no authority. The movement has a distinct cultural dimension, with its own symbols, slogans, and style of political behavior, which makes it closer to a political cult than a classic party faction.
MAGA is not a temporary phenomenon and not just about Donald Trump. It is a symptom of a deep crisis of trust in political elites, institutions, and the global order. The movement combines pragmatic demands, fear of change, and a desire for simple answers to complex questions.
For the world, including Ukraine, MAGA means the need to speak to the United States in the language of concrete benefits, not just values. For the United States itself, it is a challenge that will shape domestic policy for many years to come. Whether MAGA will become a dominant ideology or remain a form of protest depends on whether the American system can offer voters a convincing alternative.
Author: Valeriy Maydanyuk