Former MAGA Supporter Says He Saw Everyone as an 'Enemy' Before Leaving Trump Movement To Reclaim His Mental Health
Rich Logis says his time in Donald Trump's MAGA movement gave him a sense of belonging but also led him to view political opponents as enemies.
Reflecting on his departure from the movement, Logis described how fear, anger and political media shaped his worldview, eventually prompting him to reconsider the beliefs he once held so closely.
He now argues that empathy is essential when speaking to loved ones who remain committed to MAGA, drawing on his own experience of leaving the movement and rebuilding his sense of identity.
How MAGA Changed the Way He Saw Others
In a recent video shared through Leaving MAGA, Logis reflected on his conversation with Don Lemon and explained why he believes empathy matters when discussing politics with friends and relatives who support Trump.
He acknowledged that, while involved in MAGA, he often treated people with opposing views as threats rather than individuals with different perspectives. The mindset made it easier to dismiss criticism and portray political opponents as people working against his community.
'As opposed to what I used to do when I was in MAGA, which is to consider everyone against us, an enemy,' Logis said.
He argued that understanding this mentality is important when communicating with people still invested in the movement. Instead of immediately condemning them, he believes it is worth considering how their political environment may have influenced their attitudes.
He Says Fear and Rage Became Addictive
Logis described his former political outlook as an unhealthy cycle reinforced by the media he consumed, including Fox News and MAGA-aligned commentators, which he believes intensified his fear and anger.
'In MAGA, I was addicted to fear and rage,' he said.
According to Logis, repeated exposure to alarming political narratives can leave people feeling persistently threatened, encouraging paranoia and conspiratorial thinking. He also argued that misinformation becomes easier to accept when media coverage continually reinforces existing fears.
His comments reflect his personal interpretation of his experience rather than a clinical assessment of MAGA supporters as a whole. Nevertheless, his account highlights how strongly political identity and media consumption can become intertwined.
Leaving the Movement Helped Him Reclaim His Identity
Walking away from MAGA became a turning point for Logis, who said leaving allowed him to reconsider his beliefs and regain a sense of personal independence.
He described the experience as becoming a 'born again human being', explaining that he had recovered qualities he felt were diminished during his involvement with the movement.
'And I reclaimed my agency, my empathy and my individuality,' he said.
For Logis, the change extended beyond politics. He said leaving MAGA had been beneficial for his soul, psyche and mental health, emphasising the personal relief he experienced after distancing himself from the movement.
His account suggests that questioning deeply held political beliefs can involve more than changing one's opinion. It can also mean reassessing relationships, personal values and the sources of information that helped shape an individual's understanding of the world.
Why He Believes Empathy Matters Now
Logis now encourages people to approach MAGA supporters with empathy, even when they encounter offensive remarks or views they find difficult to accept.
He acknowledged that showing empathy can be difficult, particularly when political disagreements involve deeply offensive remarks or behaviour. Logis nevertheless argued that dehumanising people in response risks deepening the divisions he experienced during his own time in MAGA.
Through Leaving MAGA, Logis shares his experiences and those of others who have left the movement. He argues that empathy can help people have difficult political conversations without treating those who disagree with them as enemies or abandoning their own convictions.