NOTE: VIDEO AT THE END OF ARTICLE
In a fiery turn of events, popular libertarian comedian Dave Smith has publicly withdrawn his support for Donald Trump — and he’s not pulling any punches.
During a recent interview on Breaking Points, Smith expressed deep regret over endorsing Trump in the 2024 race, calling it a “bad calculation.” His reversal stems from Trump’s recent handling of the fast-developing crisis between Israel and Iran, which has ignited fears of wider military entanglement.
“I was wrong,” Smith said plainly. “What we’re seeing now is a complete abandonment of the promises he made about avoiding foreign conflicts. He said he was against endless wars. This isn’t that.”
The backlash follows Israel’s preemptive strikes on suspected Iranian nuclear sites last week, triggering several days of escalating retaliation. Trump responded by warning Iran not to target U.S. interests and claimed the U.S. could help broker a peace deal between the two rivals.
But Smith isn’t buying it. “Calling for peace after a major strike is not leadership — it’s theater,” he said, comparing Trump’s rhetoric to asking for negotiations after Pearl Harbor. “This isn’t how you stop a war, it’s how you pretend to.”
Once a vocal supporter of Trump’s “America First” agenda, Smith now accuses the former president of betraying his non-interventionist base. He warned that libertarians, independents, and others who backed Trump for his stance on avoiding foreign wars may walk away from the campaign altogether.
“There’s a serious fracture coming,” Smith said. “You can’t say you stand for peace and then position yourself as a wartime negotiator. It’s not going to fly with voters like me.”
His criticism taps into a broader discontent brewing within parts of the conservative and libertarian movements — groups that were crucial to Trump’s political comeback. As the Middle East crisis grows more volatile, Trump’s tone and positioning may continue to alienate those wary of another American military chapter overseas.
For many, Smith’s about-face raises the question: if even his staunchest ideological supporters are walking away, who’s next?
The controversy marks yet another moment of tension for Trump’s 2024 campaign — and highlights the increasingly fragile coalition he’ll need to hold together if he hopes to return to the White House.
James Jenkins is a celebrated Pulitzer Prize-winning author whose work has reshaped the way readers think about social justice and human rights in America. Raised in Atlanta, Georgia, James grew up in a community that instilled in him both resilience and a strong sense of responsibility toward others. After studying political science and creative writing at Howard University, he worked as a journalist covering civil rights issues before dedicating himself fully to fiction. His novels are known for their sharp, empathetic portraits of marginalized communities and for weaving personal stories with broader political realities. Jenkins’s breakout novel, Shadows of Freedom, won national acclaim for its unflinching look at systemic inequality, while his more recent works explore themes of identity, resilience, and the fight for dignity in the face of oppression. Beyond his novels, James is an active public speaker, lecturing at universities and participating in nonprofit initiatives that support literacy and community empowerment. He believes that storytelling is a way to preserve history and inspire change. When not writing, James enjoys jazz music, mentoring young writers, and traveling with his family to explore cultures and stories around the world.
