Donald Trump has seen allies come and go. But he really doesn’t like being played.
And this stabbing of Trump in the back made President Trump go on a fury-induced tirade.
Trump Criticizes Former Ally Geoff Duncan for Party Switch
Former President Donald Trump sharply criticized Geoff Duncan, Georgia’s ex-Lieutenant Governor, for switching to the Democratic Party after being ousted from the Georgia GOP for disloyalty. Duncan, who served as a Republican from 2019 to 2023, announced his shift in a Tuesday op-ed in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, prompting a fiery response from Trump.
In an early Friday post on Truth Social, Trump labeled Duncan a “total loser” and expressed relief at his departure from the Republican Party. “Failed former Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan, of Georgia, is a total loser. Was never able to get anything done, all he ever did was complain. We didn’t want him in the Republican Party any longer, so I’m told he became a Democrat,” Trump wrote. “Good riddance Geoff. You don’t even have a chance!!!”
Trump’s disdain for Duncan has been consistent. On August 3, 2024, he posted three times about Duncan, calling him a “bum” and urging the Georgia GOP to expel him. “He is a total lightweight, and went to work at a low salary for Fake News CNN. His sole function is to knock Donald J. Trump,” Trump stated. “Georgia should throw this ‘bum’ out of the Party. He is unelectable and not respected by anyone, other than your lightweight Governor, Brian Kemp who, if it wasn’t for me, would have never been Governor….”
Duncan’s op-ed revealed that his move to the Democratic Party was influenced by Trump’s actions following the 2020 election loss and the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, alongside policy disagreements. “There’s no date on a calendar or line in the sand that points to the exact moment in time my political heart changed, but it has,” Duncan wrote. “My decision was centered around my daily struggle to love my neighbor, as a Republican.”
The Georgia GOP expelled Duncan in January 2025 after he endorsed President Joe Biden during the 2024 campaign and later backed Vice President Kamala Harris when Biden withdrew. Georgia GOP Chair Josh McKoon instructed Duncan, now a CNN contributor, to stop using his Republican credentials in public appearances, accusing him of using his former title to “attack the Republican Party” on air.
Trump’s clash with Duncan is not an isolated incident but part of a trend of Republicans he once supported turning against him. This pattern of perceived betrayal has fueled Trump’s frustration, as several high-profile GOP figures have distanced themselves or openly criticized him, often after benefiting from his endorsements or influence.
One prominent example is former Vice President Mike Pence. Trump endorsed Pence as his running mate in 2016 and 2020, but their relationship soured after Pence refused to block the certification of the 2020 election results on January 6, 2021. Trump publicly criticized Pence, claiming he lacked the “courage” to act, despite their years of collaboration. Pence later announced he would not endorse Trump for the 2024 election, a move that stung the former president, who saw it as disloyalty from a key ally.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp is another case. Trump’s support was instrumental in Kemp’s 2018 gubernatorial victory, but Kemp drew Trump’s ire by certifying Georgia’s 2020 election results, which showed Biden’s win. Trump repeatedly attacked Kemp, calling him disloyal and even suggesting he should have been primaried. Kemp, in turn, has distanced himself from Trump, focusing on his own political brand and avoiding Trump’s 2024 campaign events.
Former Attorney General Bill Barr, appointed by Trump, also turned critic. Barr defended the integrity of the 2020 election, contradicting Trump’s claims of widespread fraud. In his 2022 memoir, Barr called Trump’s election fraud narrative “all bullshit,” a stark rebuke from someone Trump once praised as a loyal ally. Barr’s public criticism and refusal to support Trump’s 2024 bid further illustrate the fractures within Trump’s circle.
Liz Cheney, former Wyoming Representative, is another Republican who benefited from Trump’s early support but became a vocal critic. As a prominent conservative, Cheney initially aligned with Trump’s agenda but broke ranks over his role in the January 6 riot. Her leadership in the House January 6 Committee and her endorsement of Democratic candidates in 2022 and 2024 infuriated Trump, who called her a “RINO” (Republican In Name Only) and campaigned against her re-election.
Mitt Romney, the Utah Senator and 2012 Republican presidential nominee, also clashed with Trump despite initially seeking his endorsement for his 2018 Senate run. Romney voted to convict Trump during both impeachment trials, citing moral and constitutional concerns. Trump responded by labeling Romney a “loser” and mocking his failed presidential bid, highlighting the personal animosity that developed.
Former House Speaker Paul Ryan, who worked closely with Trump during his first two years in office, later criticized Trump’s leadership style and election fraud claims. In 2023, Ryan stated that Trump was unfit for office and predicted he would lose in 2024. Trump retaliated by calling Ryan a “pathetic RINO” who failed the party, despite their earlier collaboration on tax reform and other initiatives.
Nikki Haley, Trump’s former UN Ambassador and a 2024 GOP primary rival, also represents a betrayal in Trump’s view. Appointed by Trump in 2017, Haley was a loyal administration member but later criticized his post-2020 election behavior. During her 2024 campaign, she called for a new generation of leadership, implicitly rejecting Trump. Though she eventually endorsed him, Trump dismissed her as irrelevant, stung by her initial opposition.
Other lesser-known figures, like former Georgia election official Brad Raffensperger, faced Trump’s wrath after refusing to “find” votes to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia. Trump’s endorsement of Raffensperger’s opponent in the 2022 GOP primary failed to unseat him, further fueling Trump’s sense of betrayal by a state official he once supported.
