Jenna Ellis Trump

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Jenna Ellis is increasingly attacking Trump, his associates, and MAGA media figures

Ellis, a radio host and former Trump attorney, recently questioned why “you all still trust anything that Trump promises?!”

Written by Payton Armstrong

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After pleading guilty to charges related to her involvement in former President Donald Trump’s scheme to overturn the 2020 presidential election in Georgia, radio host Jenna Ellis has become a vocal critic of Trump, his campaign and associates, and the right-wing media personalities who are supporting him in the 2024 election. Ellis has said that Trump has a “malignant narcissistic tendency to simply say that he's never done anything wrong,” suggested that nobody “competent will work for him,” and labeled pro-Trump media figures “grifters” who are “just a Trump cheerleading squad, not advancing informed opinion based in fact and reality.”

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  • Ellis is a radio host and former Trump attorney who pleaded guilty to charges related to attempts to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia

    • Ellis, who hosts radio programs for American Family Radio and Salem Media Group, was a longtime fixture of Trump’s orbit and was charged for her involvement with his public and private efforts to reverse his 2020 election loss in Georgia. Reportedly, Trump initially hired Ellis in 2019 after seeing her on Fox News, and she acted as one of Trump’s attorneys in the 2020 post-election period. She appeared at public hearings and spoke with lawmakers in Michigan, Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Georgia, urging them to reject the popular vote results in each of their states. Ellis was ultimately charged with violating Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, known as RICO, and soliciting the violation of oath by a public officer, both felonies. [The Washington Post, 8/24/23; Axios, 11/24/19]
    • Right-wing media turned on Ellis after she pleaded guilty last year to one felony count of aiding and abetting false statements and writings. Right-wing media figures had previously rallied behind Ellis and fundraised for her legal defense, but after Ellis pleaded guilty, MAGA media figures attacked her as a “disloyal wench.” [Associated Press, 10/24/23; Media Matters, 8/30/23, 10/24/23]

  • Ellis has increasingly attacked her former boss and questioned why people “still trust anything that Trump promises”

    • Ellis said that Trump has a “malignant narcissistic tendency to simply say that he's never done anything wrong.” Ellis explained, “I simply can’t support him for elected office again,” and attacked “the total idolatry that I'm seeing from some of the supporters that are unwilling to put the Constitution and the country and the conservative principles above their love for a star.” [American Family Radio, Jenna Ellis in the Morning, 9/14/23]
    • Ellis attacked Trump after he won the Iowa caucuses for not “trying genuinely to recruit DeSantis supporters” and instead taking a “parting shot” at some evangelicals in the party. [Twitter/X, 1/21/24]
    • Ellis questioned why “you all still trust anything that Trump promises?!” The same day, Ellis posted that Trump voters are “okay with being lied to.” [Twitter/X, 1/21/24, 1/21/24]
    • Following Trump’s victory speech in Iowa, Ellis criticized Trump and “his influencers” for “shameful” attacks on other conservatives and questioned whether the GOP can unify. Ellis declared on her Salem radio show: “This is not a campaign that is genuinely trying to unify. So I have serious questions whether Trump's speech last night is genuine and sincere.” [Salem Media Group, The Jenna Ellis Show, 1/16/24]
    • Ellis said Trump “wasn’t the best candidate” and “I just don’t think he can win.” [Twitter/X, 1/30/24]
    • Ellis declared that she is criticizing Trump “based on ignoring the principles that supposedly we hold dear.” Ellis asked on her American Family Radio show: “What happened to Republican conservative politics that we can't at least call out people based on ignoring the principles that supposedly we hold dear?” Her guest, anti-abortion activist Abby Johnson, said that Trump “is not somebody who I believe is appropriate to lead our country at this time.” [American Family Radio, Jenna Ellis in the Morning, 9/19/23]
    • Ellis posted of Trump: “I don’t think he can win, I don’t think he has good personnel decisions, and I don’t think his MAGA movement reflects conservative values.” [Twitter/X, 2/3/24]

  • Ellis has also attacked MAGA media figures, Trump’s campaign strategy, and his lawyer Alina Habba

    • Ellis seemed to refer to pro-Trump media figures as “grifters” who don’t put “Country over clicks.” Ellis posted: “The difference between those of us who worked for Trump while he was in office and don’t support him anymore vs the grifters is that we actually want to Make America Great Again. This is why we backed DeSantis. Country over clicks.” [Twitter/X, 1/31/24]
    • Ellis said that “MAGA is just a Trump cheerleading squad, not advancing informed opinion based in fact and reality.” Ellis lamented “ignorant influencer cheerleading” of Trump and suggested he would lose the 2024 election. [Twitter/X, 1/28/24]
    • Ellis posted that she “cannot stand what the MAGA movement has become.” [Twitter/X, 2/2/24]
    • Ellis expressed agreement with “leftists” who “think MAGA betas are too vile.” She said: “When even leftists (correctly) think MAGA betas are too vile… you might want to reevaluate your strategy.” [Twitter/X, 2/3/24]
    • Ellis declared, “I’m not going to ‘unite’ with people with zero moral compass.” [Twitter/X, 2/3/24]
    • In a series of posts, Ellis questioned the Trump campaign’s strategy, suggesting there “is no actual plan or strategy” to appeal “to DeSantis supporters, moderates, independents, suburban women, and minorities.” [Twitter/X, 1/30/24, 1/30/24]
    • Ellis posted that “team Trump needs to start actually trying to earn these votes.” [Twitter/X, 1/24/24]
    • Ellis criticized pro-Trump media figures who preemptively blamed a Trump 2024 campaign loss on Taylor Swift as “unserious ‘influencers.’” She also “pinned” a post on her X (formerly Twitter) account that suggested Trump would lose 2024 for not trying to win all GOP voters and appeared to agree with a user who said, “And they will still wonder why they lost and blame everyone else but themselves.” [Twitter/X, 1/30/24, 1/30/24; Variety, 1/30/24] 
    • Ellis reposted a right-wing pundit who suggested that some MAGA supporters are part of “a cult.” [Twitter/X, 1/30/24]
    • Ellis criticized the Trump campaign for associating with conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer. Recently, Donald Trump Jr. has suggested Loomer serve as press secretary in Trump’s next administration. Ellis said: “Trump Camp’s willing amplification of crazy Loomer will be the gift that keeps on giving for Democrats in the general.” [Twitter/X, 2/3/24; Media Matters, 11/10/23]
    • Ellis posted that Trump lawyer Alina Habba — who unsuccessfully defended Trump against accusations of defamation — “had no clue what she was doing.” Ellis said that Trump “was irritated with her bc she had no clue what she was doing. It would be like an umpire getting annoyed with a baseball player constantly trying to kick the ball or hit it and run to third base. She didn’t know any of the rules of the game.” [Twitter/X, 1/28/24; NBC News, 1/26/24]
    • Ellis replied to a post that called Habba an “idiot,” writing, “She got on TV and she’s pretty. Why not celebrate that?” [Twitter/X, 1/27/24]
    • Ellis again brought up Habba’s appearance, replying to a post that said, “Habba really is the worst attorney I’ve ever heard of,” by saying, “​​But she’s pretty. I’m sure that’s all the jury will care about.” [Twitter/X, 1/25/24]
    • Ellis proclaimed, “​​I doubt anyone competent will work for him [Trump] anymore.” [Twitter/X, 1/26/24]
    • Ellis replied with laughing emojis to a post mocking Habba with the caption, “I move for a bad court thingy.” [Twitter/X, 1/26/24]