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How has Candace Owens' stance on former President Trump evolved since 2024?
Executive summary
Since 2024 Candace Owens has shifted from a prominent Trump backer to an increasingly public critic of his post‑2024 presidency, saying she is “embarrassed” to have campaigned for him and accusing his administration of suppressing free speech and mishandling Middle East policy [1] [2] [3]. Reporting and timelines also note Owens’ break with some conservative institutions over Israel, and show her vocal criticisms about Trump’s response to the Gaza humanitarian crisis, though coverage varies in emphasis and detail [4] [5] [3].
1. From ally to critic: the plain language shift
Candace Owens moved from visible pro‑Trump advocacy into explicit public criticism after the 2024 election cycle. In June 2025 she told Piers Morgan she felt “embarrassed” for campaigning for Trump because “what I promised wouldn’t happen, is happening,” and called him “a chronic disappointment” over his decisions, particularly related to Middle East military actions [1] [3]. Multiple outlets summarize that shift as a frank break from her prior role as a MAGA influencer who had urged people to vote for Trump [1] [3].
2. Free speech and governing style: her broad objections
Owens has framed part of her criticism around free‑speech concerns and what she sees as an authoritarian tilt in the administration. Reporting in April 2025 quotes her saying she did not “recognize this administration” and accusing it of suppressing free speech and attacking universities—issues she identifies as departures from conservative commitments she previously championed [2] [6]. This criticism echoes her departure from conservative platforms earlier when disagreements over Israel and perceived antisemitic rhetoric surfaced [6] [5].
3. Foreign policy and Gaza: a key catalyst
Her criticism is strongly tied to Trump’s Middle East policy. Multiple timelines and reporting say Owens criticized Trump’s lack of response to the humanitarian crisis in Palestine and even publicly condemned comments about building a resort on Gaza’s ruins—language that signaled an unusually sharp rebuke from a once‑staunch conservative ally [4] [5]. Her expressed distress over U.S. strikes and the potential for war also underpinned her “embarrassed” remark about supporting Trump [3].
4. Context: previous tensions with conservative institutions
Owens’ break with Trump did not occur in a vacuum. She had already had public disputes with conservative figures and institutions: she left The Daily Wire in 2024 amid disagreements over Israel and faced internal conservative backlash that led to her being dropped from a Trump campaign event in July 2024 [6] [7]. Those episodes provide context for how her views could diverge from mainstream Republican leaders while still being framed in conservative terms [6] [7].
5. Conspiracy and controversy: complications in her posture
Alongside policy critiques, Owens has been involved in controversial claims and conspiracy theories—coverage shows she pushed theories around Charlie Kirk’s death and alleged political interference, and that she accused Israel and pro‑Israel lobbies of suppressing information around such events [8] [9]. Those assertions complicate how observers interpret her criticisms of Trump: some outlets treat her as a principled dissenter, others as a polarizing figure whose claims undercut credibility [8] [9].
6. How the media frames the change: split narratives
Conservative and left‑leaning outlets portray Owens’ evolution through different lenses. Some headlines highlight a principled turnaround—publicly regretting a Trump endorsement and criticizing his administration’s direction—while other pieces emphasize her broader slide into controversial and incendiary rhetoric, which had already strained her conservative alliances [1] [6] [5]. The coverage set shows both narratives present in the record [1] [6] [5].
7. What the sources do not say
Available sources do not mention a formal, sustained movement by Owens to ally with any rival political faction or to run electorally herself after 2024; they document public statements, departures from conservative platforms, and legal/controversial incidents through mid‑2025, but do not provide a comprehensive timeline of every interaction with Trump after February 2025 [4] [1] [5].
8. Bottom line for readers
Reporting in 2024–mid‑2025 documents a clear, public distancing by Candace Owens from Donald Trump: she moved from active campaigning for him to calling herself embarrassed by that support, criticizing his free‑speech posture and Middle East policies, and continuing to court controversy with provocative claims that color how her critiques are received [1] [2] [3] [8]. Observers should weigh both her policy grievances and the broader controversies that shape her credibility when assessing the significance of her shift [1] [8].