A former CIA operative who ran for president is spearheading a new conservative group to take on President Donald Trump and launching the effort with an accusatory ad linking the billionaire businessman with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Washington Examiner reports that Evan McMullin, along with his onetime running mate Republican consultant Mindy Finn, have created a political nonprofit called "Stand Up Republic."
The group's TV ad states: "The President has a secret. What is it? It's the reason Donald Trump always puts Vladimir Putin first. Why Trump insults and abandons our allies, but basks in Putin's praise. Why he compares American intelligence officers who protect us to Nazis ... and covers for Putin's attacks on our democracy. He hides connections to Russians ... and troubling stories keep coming. Is Donald Trump compromised? How can we trust him if he won't he come clean?"
McMullin, a Republican who ran as an independent against Trump and Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election, told the newspaper the group's goals are to "grow a grassroots movement that will be able to exert influence over both the president and members of Congress."
The ad will air on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" program.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.