Batya Ungar-Sargon: From 'Woke Leftist' to 'MAGA Leftist'

Batya Ungar-Sargon, author of ‘Second Class,’ explains her transformation from a Trump critic to a supporter, highlighting her new label as a ‘MAGA leftist.’

Batya Ungar-Sargon, a columnist and author, has made headlines after identifying as a ‘MAGA leftist’ on HBO’s ‘Real Time with Bill Maher.’ The label, which puzzled host Bill Maher, resonated with thousands of others who reached out to Ungar-Sargon following her appearance, expressing their shared sentiments and appreciation for her stance.

Ungar-Sargon, who penned ‘Second Class: How the Elites Betrayed America’s Working Men and Women,’ credits her shift from a staunch Trump critic to a supporter to a deeper understanding of the working class’s needs and a reevaluation of her political beliefs. Initially suffering from what she calls ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome,’ her views began to change after reading a 2018 Yale study on White liberals’ communication patterns with people of color, which she found reflective of a broader condescension within progressive circles.

Her journey led her to vote for Donald Trump for the first time in the 2024 presidential election, a decision she stands by firmly. Ungar-Sargon attributes Trump’s victory to his appeal to a diverse coalition, including moderates and leftists like herself, who felt alienated by the Democratic Party’s shift away from working-class interests during the COVID-19 pandemic.

She praises Trump’s economic policies and his ability to represent the American working class, arguing that his agenda was more unifying than divisive among ordinary Americans. Ungar-Sargon contrasts the welcoming nature of the MAGA movement with what she perceives as the exclusionary attitude of the left, where minor disagreements can lead to ostracism.

Her story highlights a significant ideological realignment, challenging conventional political labels and emphasizing economic concerns as central to her political transformation.