Douglas Macgregor

Tucker Carlson (L) interviews Douglas Macgregor

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Douglas Abbott Macgregor, Col. (ret.) is the CEO of Our Country Our Choice. Douglas Macgregor is a senior fellow with The American Conservative, and former advisor to the Secretary of Defense in the Trump administration.

Douglas Macgregor / Glenn Diesen Interview

Col. Douglas Macgregor: The US Is an Aggressor Disguised as a Mediator in Ukraine (clip 24.04.2025)

In a clip from Glenn Diesen's YouTube channel, titled "Col. Douglas Macgregor: The US Is an Aggressor Disguised as a Mediator in Ukraine (clip 24.04.2025)," Macgregor critiques the United States's role in the Russia/Ukraine conflict, arguing that the United States has been a key aggressor rather than a neutral mediator. He highlights the escalation of NATO-Ukraine military exercises since 2007 as evidence of long-standing anti-Russia hostility, suggesting that this belligerence predates and undermines former President Donald Trump's attempts at diplomacy. Macgregor questions Donald Trump's credibility as a peace broker, noting his lack of a forceful stance against the war and unrealistic claims about quickly resolving the conflict. He further argues that the United States lacks a coherent strategy, driven instead by powerful lobbies like those for Israel and the "military-industrial complex", while ignoring domestic economic issues and misattributing problems to China. Glenn Diesen reinforces this narrative, pointing to the United States's deep involvement in war planning and questioning how President Donald Trump can claim to be a mediator while United States weapons and intelligence are used against Russia. Douglas Macgregor concludes that the United States government, including agencies like the CIA and the State Department, is dysfunctional and unlikely to change course until a looming financial crisis forces a reckoning.

Full Transcript

Douglas Macgregor: The idea of the United States operating as a broker in good faith is absurd. Without us, there would have been no war at all. So how do you explain the American role? Larry Johnson sent me a note this morning. He said he started looking at all the exercises involving Ukraine and NATO forces starting in 2007. What's remarkable is that they just become more and more frequent and intense over time. So the anti-Russian hostility to Russia was sort of baked in long before Trump showed up. I don't think he understood from the very beginning that it was really not his call to settle anything in the region. He's not an honest broker in the Russian view. Now, I think they've been very polite to him and let him spin his wheels and try to do things, but ultimately, I don't think they expected anything to come of it. The question is, why would you pay any attention to President Trump at this point? Where has he been on these issues? He was never a forceful voice for ending the war, never a forceful voice for peace. He came to it gradually and then made outrageous claims that he could not possibly transform into reality, that he could end-pressed for a day. That's absurd. I think that reflects the assumptions that he continues to hold about who we are in the world today. It reflects this lack of understanding that we really do live in a multipolar world, that we are by no means the sole superpower. If anything, we're viewed as very weak and vacillating at this point, particularly on the economic side. So I'm not sure the Russians are surprised. He may be surprised, and so now the Trump team wants to cover its tracks and sort of save face and pretend that, well, these Ukrainians just won't work with us. Come on, it's deeper than that. It's more profound than that. So I think we are rightly now going to stop interfering, I hope. To what extent President Trump and his team have control of the CIA is very much open to debate. Radcliffe, the man who's over there, is a neocon, so I don't know what the CIA is actually doing. I think that's something that Trump ought to focus on and find out, along with Tulsi Gabbard, because I just don't see that we're doing a sharp turn in any particularly new direction. We're just sort of pretending that we had a role to play, and because the Ukrainians don't like us anymore or something, we're leaving. We're picking up our toys, leaving the sandbox, and going somewhere else to play.

Diesen: As you said, the US does play a strange role because it has been a key participant in this war from the beginning, from the toppling of the government. And, of course, as we learned from the New York Times article, the US has been very much front and center at the war planning. But at the same time, Trump and his team present themselves as the mediators, simply trying to get all the Europeans, the Russians, and the Ukrainians to all come to an agreement. It is an interesting balancing act, a bit confusing as well. But what is the wider strategy then? If there is no political settlement here, where does the United States go from here? I'm just asking because if Trump decides to double down and put more pressure on Russia, then how are his policies any different from that of Biden? To this regard, he can't really argue that this isn't his war anymore because, at the moment, as US weapons, US intelligence being used to kill Russians. So how long can you play at being a mediator if there's no peace to be made?

Macgregor: I think those are legitimate questions. I think we have to come to the realization that the United States has no strategy. That's not entirely a new development. Let's be frank, once the Cold War came to an end, it was more an effort to maintain our hegemony—political, military, and economic—than anything else. We thought that the way you do that is by threatening, bullying, and intervening. That hasn't worked out very well. In the meantime, we've largely ignored our own economic problems. We like to blame China for everything that's wrong at the moment economically, but the Chinese did not come over here in large groups and demand that we move our industries to China. They may have been the beneficiaries of that, but we allowed it to happen because the people in the private sector saw huge profits to themselves and could care less about the United States. That's a separate problem entirely. People complain about the Chinese because they say, "Well, they've stolen IP, they've stolen this." Well, the Chinese have been doing that for the last couple of thousand years, as the Japanese and Koreans and others will tell you. That's our fault because we admitted them to laboratories, universities, and government labs. What did we expect to happen? We are the authors of our own misfortune, let's put it that way. But no one wants to admit that, least of all Trump. So I think right now there is no strategy other than, well, we're going to punish those Chinese, which, of course, is not working very well. If anybody's being punished at this point, it's us by our own actions. So what is the strategy? What are our interests? It becomes very difficult to define your true strategic interests when powerful lobbies make those calls for you. Right now, the Israel lobby is in charge, and they're defining what our larger strategic interests are, not Americans. Then you have the military-industrial-congressional complex, which is all about funding itself and enriching themselves. They too have a huge effect on the conduct of policy. That's why I said, instead of doing what he's doing, I think he would be well served to find out whether or not he's got any control inside his own government. What's happening inside the CIA? What's happening over at the National Security Agency? What's happening on the ground in the State Department, if anything? The truth is, I think the State Department is increasingly irrelevant. It's a relic of the early 20th century, doesn't seem to have any impact at all. I think Rubio is almost indistinguishable from Blinken in all important ways. I don't know how many times I've spoken with delegations, people from overseas, that have been seeking contact with the Trump administration, and all threw up their hands in disgust and walked away from the State Department, saw no point in talking to them at all. That leaves the Department of Defense, and the Department of Defense is obviously in complete disarray. This is all self-inflicted nonsense, but I don't think anything's going to change until we see the financial crisis develop and the economy implode, which I think is not far off.

Jackson Hinkle Endorsed Douglas Macgregor

Jackson Hinkle Tweet Dated November 9, 2024 Endorses Douglas Macgregor

Jackson Hinkle endorsed Douglas Macgregor for Secretary of Defense on X dated November 9, 2024.

Daniel McAdams Endorsed Douglas Macgregor

Daniel McAdams Tweet Dated November 8, 2024 Endorses Douglas Macgregor

Daniel McAdams endorsed Douglas Macgregor for Secretary of Defense on X dated November 8, 2024.

"Why the hell are we still talking about neocon Pompeo as SecDef? And Rubio? Why - in a supposed "America first" administration - can't we have a Defense Secretary who is a real American war hero who understands that, yes, we must be ready for war, but we must do everything possible to preserve peace? @realDonaldTrump - why the hell are you not IMMEDIATELY naming American war hero - and your good FRIEND! -

@DougAMacgregor as your Defense Secretary? You have a Republican Senate - you can get him through! Stop this bullshit! Stop playing footsie with the neocons. You were elected by the America-first movement. Why can't we have an America-first Defense Secretary? #SecretaryMacgregorNow

Third Party

Douglas Macgregor has endorsed a third political party, featuring Donald Trump and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. on the top of the ticket.,

Appearance on Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Podcast

Douglas Macgregor appeared on Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.'s podcast titled "Violence In France and Ukraine with Col Douglas Macgregor" dated July 2, 2023.

Numerous Appearances on Tucker Carlson

Douglas Macgregor has regularly appeared on Tucker Carlson's show on Fox and on X (formerly Twitter).

Douglas Macgregor told Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. on social media that he was "silenced" after Tucker Carlson was fired from Fox News.

Judging Freedom

Andrew Napolitano's show "Judging Freedom" has featured (most are regulars) Dennis Kucinich, Tony Shaffer, Kyle Anzalone, Aaron Mate, Phil Giraldi, Scott Ritter, Ray McGovern, Alastair Crooke, Gerald Celente, Col. Lawrence Wilkerson, Matthew Hoh, Douglas Macgregor, Anya Parampil, Larry C. Johnson, Patrick Lancaster, John Mearsheimer, Karen Kwaitkowski, Jeffrey Sachs, Phil Giraldi, Kevin DeMeritt, Matthew Lohmeier, Craig Murray, Max Blumenthal, Bill O'Reilly, Ron Paul, Ron Unz, Mike Benz, Scott Horton, Michael Rectenwald, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Matthew VanDyke, Lionel, Jacob Hornberger, Jack DeVine, and others.

Macgregor: Ukraine will Lose

Macgregor explains how wise Putin is in May, 2023.

Macgregor explains that it is America's fault Putin invaded Ukraine, July 2024; Claims [falsely] that Ukraine 'treats Christianity with complete contempt'

Douglas Macgregor X Post dated December 22, 2023

Douglas Macgregor X Post dated January 25, 2024

Douglas Macgregor X Post dated May 24, 2023

Douglas Macgregor has largely blamed the United States and NATO for Russia's invasion. Douglas Macgregor has been adamant that America should not help Ukraine in the wake of the Russia invasion and that Ukraine will lose the war. Douglas Macgregor has been very critical of Ukraine president Zelensky, repeatedly comparing him to Benito Mussolini and Josef Stalin.,,,

Some of his statements on X:

• Quote from video exchange with Andrew Napolitano posted July, 2024:

"Douglas Macgregor:President Putin wants to avoid a direct confrontation with the United States and NATO. He's never wanted it. We're the ones that goaded him into attacking into eastern Ukraine to begin with. We're the ones that wanted to place forces right on his border with the goal of attacking him. We're the ones that wanted to place missile systems there. So I think it's very obvious that uh under the circumstances he could have attacked with any number of different weapon systems a long time ago and he hasn't done it. I hope he can continue to exercise restraint because I think we're nearing the end of this tragedy frankly.

Andrew Napolitano:How how much longer can well before we get to nearing the end why would they have done this on a Sunday afternoon on a Sunday that is a feast day a high feast day it's Pentecost Sunday in the Russian Orthodox church. Everybody's off and the beaches are packed - unless they wanted to uh injure or kill civilians?

Douglas Macgregor: Well I'm sure that's not an unreasonable conclusion if you're a Russian. Clearly one of the things that we have to note is that this regime in Kyiv treats Christianity with complete contempt. They've shut down churches. They've imprisoned members of the clergy - so that's unsurprising. This is a very nihilistic atheistic regime in Kyiv which may be why the globalist elites in Washington, D.C. and in places like Paris and London are so excited about attacking Russia. They wanted this sort of nihilistic atheistic approach adopted here in the United States. We know that from experience during Covid so I guess you have to accept the fact that this looks deliberate."

• "Ukraine is going to lose catastrophically, It's going to be a complete collapse." -Douglas Macgregor X Post dated July 3, 2023
• "Fighting the Russians in Ukraine is nonsensical for us, it's irrelevant.. it's crazy.." -Douglas Macgregor X Post dated July 3, 2023
• "Sending Cluster Bombs to Ukraine is NOT the Way to Go." -Douglas Macgregor X Post dated July 10, 2023
• "Ukraine has lost, NATO is crumbling, the western electorates no longer support the war, western governments are on the brink of collapse; Zelensky is desperate.." -Douglas Macgregor X Post dated July 13, 2023
• "The rest of the world looks upon us as the aggressor in Ukraine. If Russia were the aggressor that place would look like a parking lot and the Russians would be well on their way to the Polish border." -Douglas Macgregor X Post dated July 15, 2023
• "The media is not telling the truth about Ukraine. If the intelligence agents that are on the ground were allowed to tell the truth we'd pack out bags, get out and make peace. The killing needs to end, it's accomplishing nothing." -Douglas Macgregor X Post dated July 18, 2023
• "Ukraine is in ruins. Its latest counteroffensive achieved nothing. In the last three weeks, an estimated 26,000 Ukrainian soldiers died in pointless attacks against world-class Russian defenses." -Douglas Macgregor X Post dated July 21, 2023
• "Zelensky is facing mass desertion and disobedience from the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Zelensky's leadership is being called into question. Ukrainian officers shoot soldiers who refuse to go into battle. There are a huge number of deserters who surrender in whole platoons." -Douglas Macgregor X Post dated July 22, 2023
• "The lies coming out of the administration are enormous. Ukraine In NATO Puts Us Closer To WWIII. Sadly, despite the Russia hoax, people continue to believe what comes out of the television." -Douglas Macgregor X Post dated July 22, 2023
• "WAKE UP: If Russia was the aggressor against Ukraine, the situation would be different now, and we would see Russians on the borders of Poland after they destroyed Ukraine, but this did not happen, because the Russians do not want this." -Douglas Macgregor X Post dated July 24, 2023
• "Russian Forces have made Major Advancements, Ukraine on its last legs" -Douglas Macgregor X Post dated July 25, 2023
• "WAKE UP: Ukraine has roughly 10 brigades left, Russia will obliterate those forces in no time. Russia will move towards Kharkov, circle the city, invite Ukrainians to attack them and then destroy Ukrainian forces..." -Douglas Macgregor X Post dated July 27, 2023
• "American cash is sustaining Ukraine, it's on life support and the humane thing to do is to put an end to it. The Ukrainian force is desperate and at the point of disintegration." -Douglas Macgregor X Post dated July 29, 2023
• "America’s proxy war with Russia has transformed Ukraine into a graveyard. Make Peace, You Fools!" -Douglas Macgregor X Post dated August 2, 2023
• "FACT: Washington baited Putin to go into Ukraine. They reached the conclusion this was their opportunity to destroy Russia. Make Peace, You Fools!" -Douglas Macgregor X Post dated August 8, 2023
• "What many in the West don't realize is that Zelensky and his regime is the equivalent to a fatally wounded animal that is dying. As a result it will strike out with whatever it has to the bitter end at this point, rather than surrender."
• "President Putin, in contrast to us, is not impulsive. He's not emotional. He's moved very deliberately and very cautiously. He has resisted the temptation to smash everything in sight. He wants to negotiate, that's abundantly clear..."

Don't Bomb Iran

Douglas Macgregor wrote an OpEd for The American Conservative discouraging an attack on Iran after "three US Army soldiers were killed and more than 30 service members were injured" by Iran-backed militants. Douglas Macgregor argued that "Tehran made it clear that any strike on its territory is a redline and bombing any part of Iranian territory 'would be met with an appropriate response.'" Further, "a strategic bombing campaign directed at Iran sends a clear and unambiguous message: The United States is at war with the Iranian State, its people, and its armed forces," he warned. He continued to say that "Bombing will not prevent Iran from establishing new and better air defense sites. In fact, history suggests that high altitude bombing increases the determination of hostile opponents to resist, not surrender." Douglas Macgregor also targeted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who he writes "remains determined to complete his task of expelling or destroying the Palestinian population in Gaza." He closes by stating: "Bullying, bribing, bombing, and sanctioning opponents has not worked well. Thanks to a string of strategic military failures in Afghanistan, Libya, Iraq, and Ukraine, Washington is rapidly reaching hell in its relations with the rest of the world."

Praise for Dugin, Warning to Ukraine

Praise for Dugin, Warning to Ukraine Streamed live on Aug 23, 2022

Excerpt from a Real Clear Politics article titled "Macgregor: Ukraine Will Face 'Very Unattractive Consequences' In Response To Assassination Of Russian Philosopher's Daughter" dated August 23, 2022:

"Retired Col. Douglas Macgregor spoke with Andrew Napolitano's podcast about the first six months of the war between Ukraine and Russia and the assassination of the daughter of Vladimir Putin's favorite "Eurasianist" philosopher Alexander Dugin:

MACGREGOR: Alexander Dugin is a very well-known figure because of his strong commitment to Russian nationalism and the Orthodox Church in Russia. He is one of the people who has been very outspoken in his support of the intervention in Ukraine. And he has frankly talked in very negative terms about the Ukrainian government and the forces fighting the Russians.

[...]

The daughter is similar to her dad but has not expressed those views publicly, but her father is sort of dripping in buckets of blood about what should happen to the Ukrainians. So that made him an easy target, but he is not 'Putin's Brain,' as somebody thinks. He is simply someone who Putin listens to. Putin is like any prudent president or leader of any country, he listens to a number of different people. He is sympathetic to the Russian nationalists, but he has also worked very hard to press them and their influence, on many occasions, because they tend to be very hot-headed.

It is tragic that this man's daughter was killed. It is a dumb thing to do, frankly, and I think we are now going to watch some very unattractive consequences. Any number of things are possible at this point.

[...]

I would think the Ukrainians will naturally deny any involvement, as they really should. I wouldn't want to own up to this if I were the Ukrainians, but it is very plausible [that this was done by Ukraine] and it makes sense.

It is stupid, I think that is the worst part. One of the things I have discussed routinely is that the longer this conflict persists, so does the danger of it widening, expanding, and exploding in everyone's face. These kinds of actions contribute to that danger because inside Russia, a population which is already very supportive of President Putin and his policies is enraged over this murder.