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tulipsandroses

(8,245 posts)
Sun Feb 1, 2026, 11:36 AM Feb 1

When you've lost Ammon Bundy -The anti-government militia leader can't make sense of his allies' support of ICE

Ammon Bundy Is All Alone
The anti-government militia leader can’t make sense of his allies’ support for ICE violence

Not so long ago, Ammon Bundy was the most famous right-wing militia leader in America. His two armed standoffs with federal agents had made him the face of the Patriot Movement: a loose assemblage of anti-government extremists, Second Amendment maximalists, and more than a few white nationalists. Even some mainstream elements of the Republican Party embraced him as a modern folk hero. But Bundy’s criticism of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown now threatens to make him a pariah within his own community.

In November, Bundy self-published a long essay titled “The Stranger,” in which he labeled the Trump administration’s treatment of undocumented immigrants a “moral failure.” “To call such people criminals for lacking official permission” to be in the country, he wrote, “is to forget the moral law of God, the historical truth of our own founding, and the Constitutional ideals that continue to define justice.” On a recent livestream following the killing of Renee Good in Minnesota, Bundy told his audience that ICE’s conduct “clearly looks like tyranny.” If the government threatened his family, he said, he would fight back by whatever means necessary.

I spoke with Bundy a few hours after federal immigration agents shot and killed Alex Pretti. “It’s sickening to me,” he told me over the phone, “just to see the parallels of history repeating itself.” (In his November essay, he had compared the administration’s treatment of immigrants to the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.) He added, “When it comes to the more humanitarian side of it, I think the left has it much more correct than the nationalist right.”

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/02/ammon-bundy-trump-ice/685849/


54 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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When you've lost Ammon Bundy -The anti-government militia leader can't make sense of his allies' support of ICE (Original Post) tulipsandroses Feb 1 OP
No words... newdeal2 Feb 1 #1
I think the British have a word for how I feel Roy Rolling Feb 1 #41
I had hoped we would never have to hear from this insurrectionist again. travelingthrulife Feb 1 #2
Always remember; The enemy of my enemy is my friend. flashman13 Feb 1 #16
My temporary ally. Never my friend. Iggo Feb 1 #31
NOPE Skittles Feb 2 #43
Here's how I'll always remember Cowpoke Bundy yonder Feb 1 #34
By this administrations logic, he should be in a hole in the ground with Volaris Feb 2 #44
No sympathy for Bundy here, but ... FakeNoose Feb 1 #3
My first reaction too. Attilatheblond Feb 1 #23
This message was self-deleted by its author jfz9580m Feb 2 #49
This his how truly fcked this country is Cosmocat Feb 1 #4
He's only trying to get laid RB77 Feb 1 #5
Mary Tyer Moore? NO... Marjorie Tyler Moore? NO... Safe as Milk Feb 1 #17
One word. CULT. Ferrets are Cool Feb 1 #6
It's all fun and games to them until the regime they support goes too far. Initech Feb 1 #36
He should be in prison, with Trump. twodogsbarking Feb 1 #7
Dude's a fucking genius aocommunalpunch Feb 1 #8
I'm surprised that he is willing to admit such a thing, though. Shipwack Feb 1 #28
It's true. The average right wing partisan claims Trump as a role model. thought crime Feb 1 #42
you can hear his only two working synapses firing from here. nt Javaman Feb 2 #48
Take the win Nasruddin Feb 1 #9
Thank You RB77 Feb 1 #13
He's starting to recognize that the Govt he voted for was what his militia was formed to protect everyone from. mdbl Feb 1 #26
I won't eat the crumbs off his table. Boomerproud Feb 1 #33
An irrelevant win lacking both weight and measure Torchlight Feb 2 #54
Words I never, ever thought I would hear from Bundy, MarineCombatEngineer Feb 1 #10
It IS the upside down Maru Kitteh Feb 1 #11
Don't agree with Bundy much, but I will say this: at least he's not a hypocrite, unlike members of the Republican party. Fil1957 Feb 1 #12
Will wonders never cease Easterncedar Feb 1 #14
We are through the looking glass Blue Owl Feb 1 #15
Things get curiouser and curiouser. twodogsbarking Feb 1 #19
That reads like an educated thoughtful response BidenRocks Feb 1 #18
My god. I just looked out the window and I could swear I saw a couple of pigs flying. Texin Feb 1 #20
Ha, the worm is turning, as they say. Joinfortmill Feb 1 #21
It's easy to understand even you realize it's about racism JI7 Feb 1 #22
Exactly. Ray Bruns Feb 2 #51
He's an unstable self-absorbed attention whore with a loud angry violent style struggle4progress Feb 1 #24
MAGAts don't mind a tyrant violating the Constitution when victims are people they hate Martin Eden Feb 1 #25
If David Koresh (Waco seige) and Randy Weaver (Ruby Ridge standoff) were alive, they'd be anti-ICE, too. sop Feb 1 #27
Wow, I didn't know Weaver passed away Polybius Feb 1 #39
Weaver died in 2022, he was 74-years-old. sop Feb 1 #40
ICE are the "Jack-booted thugs" Bundy has been warning us about. Bluetus Feb 1 #29
2 armed standoffs during the Obama administration and he's still alive IronLionZion Feb 1 #30
He sings one note: all government reach is overreach. Iggo Feb 1 #32
This message was self-deleted by its author jfz9580m Feb 2 #50
Now this is certainly a turn I didn't see coming! Initech Feb 1 #35
Yes! Cirsium Feb 1 #37
He's always seen the government as the enemy, now the stark reality of it has shown itself. patphil Feb 1 #38
He was outspoken as well during Grift v.1 BaronChocula Feb 2 #45
Strange bedfollows Betty Boom Feb 2 #46
But still, he FAFO'd! Crowman2009 Feb 2 #47
Buddy is SOOOOOO close to getting it. BradBo Feb 2 #52
Our government threw the case against these insurrectionists leading to the big insurrection travelingthrulife Feb 2 #53

yonder

(10,287 posts)
34. Here's how I'll always remember Cowpoke Bundy
Sun Feb 1, 2026, 04:43 PM
Feb 1

Though I'd accept anything which helps keep his ilk at home and away from the voting booth, he's still a narrow minded knucklehead and NOT our friend.

Here's the 'lil pardner riding the Jefferson Street range in front of the Idaho Statehouse handcuffed to his trusty office steed just two days apart from another arrest:



https://www.mainepublic.org/2020-08-26/ammon-bundy-is-arrested-and-wheeled-out-of-the-idaho-statehouse

Volaris

(11,669 posts)
44. By this administrations logic, he should be in a hole in the ground with
Mon Feb 2, 2026, 12:55 AM
Feb 2

an Obama Administration sized bullet hole in his head.
That even HE REALIZES THAT, means trump is fucked and there's likely no way to unfuck it.

FakeNoose

(41,452 posts)
3. No sympathy for Bundy here, but ...
Sun Feb 1, 2026, 11:40 AM
Feb 1

... he is a rancher and he probably hires immigrants to work for him. Most likely he appreciates their cheap labor, if nothing else.

Attilatheblond

(8,836 posts)
23. My first reaction too.
Sun Feb 1, 2026, 02:16 PM
Feb 1

Lived in a remote ranching county. They LOVE Mexican laborers. Heard lots of complaints about American ranch hands and white Austrailian sheep shearers from those very RW/GOP voting ranch owners. To a one, they said the Mexican immigrants worked harder, were infinitely more polite to female ranch family members, and were never hung over or no-shows in the morning due to being arrested for brawling with locals in the bars.

Response to FakeNoose (Reply #3)

Cosmocat

(15,407 posts)
4. This his how truly fcked this country is
Sun Feb 1, 2026, 11:43 AM
Feb 1

when one year into DT 2 this psychopath comes off as a voice of reason ...

RB77

(82 posts)
5. He's only trying to get laid
Sun Feb 1, 2026, 11:54 AM
Feb 1

I live in Idaho and the word has been buzzing around that he has a humongous crush on Mary Taylor Greene 😻

aocommunalpunch

(4,579 posts)
8. Dude's a fucking genius
Sun Feb 1, 2026, 01:05 PM
Feb 1

“When it comes to the more humanitarian side of it, I think the left has it much more correct than the nationalist right.”

YA DON’T FUCKIN SAY?! Sheer brilliance here.

Shipwack

(3,059 posts)
28. I'm surprised that he is willing to admit such a thing, though.
Sun Feb 1, 2026, 02:38 PM
Feb 1

Yes, he’s a POS who should have been jailed long ago. However, I’m surprised that he is able to say something positive about the Left at all.

I’ve been saying for a few weeks now that these anti-government types have been showing their true colors by being silent. I can’t complain when one finally does speak out.

Strange days indeed.

Nasruddin

(1,241 posts)
9. Take the win
Sun Feb 1, 2026, 01:16 PM
Feb 1

At least he has some principles.

We need every ally we can get to stand against the regime. Behind him there are more.
We should be able to negotiate a way to live with the movement he represents. Don't let some scheming psychopath get there 1st.

RB77

(82 posts)
13. Thank You
Sun Feb 1, 2026, 01:30 PM
Feb 1

I certainly agree. It’s critical that we have as much support that we can get when they’re trying to take our country by force.

mdbl

(8,623 posts)
26. He's starting to recognize that the Govt he voted for was what his militia was formed to protect everyone from.
Sun Feb 1, 2026, 02:31 PM
Feb 1

Either way, he'll still turn into a big asshole if the govt prosecutes him for illegally using land for his cattle again.

Boomerproud

(9,278 posts)
33. I won't eat the crumbs off his table.
Sun Feb 1, 2026, 04:19 PM
Feb 1

We have enough truly good, really principled people on the right side of history. I don't need Ammon Bundy to tell me anything. BTW, where is Liz Cheney who was elevated to hero status a couple of years ago.

Torchlight

(6,759 posts)
54. An irrelevant win lacking both weight and measure
Mon Feb 2, 2026, 11:46 AM
Feb 2

Obstinacy and greed are not principles to emulate or welcome.

MarineCombatEngineer

(18,051 posts)
10. Words I never, ever thought I would hear from Bundy,
Sun Feb 1, 2026, 01:20 PM
Feb 1

we definitely live in strange times with strange bedfellows.

Again, that old saying, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend"....for now.

Fil1957

(698 posts)
12. Don't agree with Bundy much, but I will say this: at least he's not a hypocrite, unlike members of the Republican party.
Sun Feb 1, 2026, 01:28 PM
Feb 1

twodogsbarking

(18,647 posts)
19. Things get curiouser and curiouser.
Sun Feb 1, 2026, 02:00 PM
Feb 1

The Queen of Hearts
She made some tarts,
All on a summer's day;
The Knave of Hearts
He stole those tarts,
And took them clean away.
The King of Hearts
Called for the tarts,
And beat the knave full sore;
The Knave of Hearts
Brought back the tarts,
And vowed he'd steal no more.

BidenRocks

(3,225 posts)
18. That reads like an educated thoughtful response
Sun Feb 1, 2026, 01:59 PM
Feb 1

from a contemptable liar and thief.
You had snipers on that fucking bridge asshole!
I am not the Lord so I do not have to forgive anything!

Deathbed conversion?

struggle4progress

(126,071 posts)
24. He's an unstable self-absorbed attention whore with a loud angry violent style
Sun Feb 1, 2026, 02:18 PM
Feb 1

Today lots of other assholes just like him are wearing ICE vests and attacking ordinary people

Stay the fuck away from him

Martin Eden

(15,577 posts)
25. MAGAts don't mind a tyrant violating the Constitution when victims are people they hate
Sun Feb 1, 2026, 02:23 PM
Feb 1

Bundy is an exception to this rule, apparently.

sop

(18,504 posts)
27. If David Koresh (Waco seige) and Randy Weaver (Ruby Ridge standoff) were alive, they'd be anti-ICE, too.
Sun Feb 1, 2026, 02:35 PM
Feb 1

Polybius

(21,871 posts)
39. Wow, I didn't know Weaver passed away
Sun Feb 1, 2026, 08:35 PM
Feb 1

It didn't make big headlines. I would have posted it in LBN for sure had I known.

Bluetus

(2,736 posts)
29. ICE are the "Jack-booted thugs" Bundy has been warning us about.
Sun Feb 1, 2026, 02:52 PM
Feb 1

Janet Reno was nothing next to these goons.

IronLionZion

(51,195 posts)
30. 2 armed standoffs during the Obama administration and he's still alive
Sun Feb 1, 2026, 03:19 PM
Feb 1

ICE kills people for filming them these days.

Iggo

(49,909 posts)
32. He sings one note: all government reach is overreach.
Sun Feb 1, 2026, 03:40 PM
Feb 1

Last edited Sun Feb 1, 2026, 10:59 PM - Edit history (1)

The government just happens to be criminally overreaching right now, so that one note he sings fits perfectly into our song. But it’s just one of the two times a day his busted clock happens to be right. Don’t be fooled. He’s not our friend.

(Mixed metaphors rule!!!)

Response to Iggo (Reply #32)

patphil

(9,023 posts)
38. He's always seen the government as the enemy, now the stark reality of it has shown itself.
Sun Feb 1, 2026, 08:01 PM
Feb 1

I imagine he feels his whole life has been justified. And, thanks to Trump, it has.

BaronChocula

(4,513 posts)
45. He was outspoken as well during Grift v.1
Mon Feb 2, 2026, 02:37 AM
Feb 2

as I recall. In spite of all of his negative qualities he's consistently spoken in defense of immigrants. Go figure.

Crowman2009

(3,515 posts)
47. But still, he FAFO'd!
Mon Feb 2, 2026, 08:06 AM
Feb 2

The same goes with every other MAGA farmer who wondered where all their cheap immigrant labor went.

BradBo

(1,005 posts)
52. Buddy is SOOOOOO close to getting it.
Mon Feb 2, 2026, 11:36 AM
Feb 2

It’s not the Comstitution we are defending, it’s the rich griftimg we are fighting.
And the right side of the SCOTUS likes the grift and is willing to trash the country for a golden toilet.

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