Leaving Maga Expands Support in 27 States as 500,000 Seek Help Exiting Trumpism

1 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Sep 1

Nearly 40 billboards in 27 states and weekly support meetings now anchor Leaving Maga’s push to help people questioning Trumpism, with the nonprofit framing departure as rebuilding identity rather than simply changing politics.
More than 500,000 people visited the group’s website last year, and a similar number have done so so far this year, as founder Rich Logis says doubts are rising over Trump’s unpopularity, DOGE-related firings, broken foreign-policy promises and higher costs.
Former supporters including Stephania Messina and Carter Brown describe leaving as a slow break from Christian nationalism, conspiracy theories and fear-based media, followed by efforts to repair harm and rebuild empathy.
The group also runs weekly online sessions for relatives of Maga supporters, where therapist Julianna Forlano uses addiction-recovery tools to help families stop futile political fights, manage grief and keep relationships open if loved ones begin to question the movement.
Launched in 2024, Leaving Maga reflects a broader view that Maga functions as a community as much as an ideology, making exit harder but also creating demand for organized off-ramps as some former backers drift away quietly.