‘Through the Looking Glass’: Former Trump Officials Prepare to Flee Ahead of Second Term

As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House, a sense of dread has taken hold among some former officials from his first administration. According to The Washington Post, several individuals who once worked closely with Trump are now contemplating the unthinkable—leaving the country in anticipation of what they fear could be a crackdown on dissent and free speech.

Among those preparing to flee is a retired U.S. Army officer who frequently clashed with Trump’s officials, as well as a former intelligence officer and an outspoken critic from Trump’s first administration. All spoke with The Post on the condition of anonymity, wary of undermining their own preparations. They describe a growing sense of unease over the direction Trump’s leadership may take, especially with the potential for severe repercussions against those who once challenged his authority.

“The planning, they acknowledge, responds to a hypothetical worst-case scenario in which a second Trump presidency ushers in systematic suppression of free speech and criminalization of dissent,” The Post writes. The idea of fleeing might seem drastic, but to these former insiders, the threat feels increasingly tangible.

These fears were amplified after Trump’s recent announcements to appoint former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) as attorney general and former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) as director of national intelligence. The choice of Gaetz, a staunch ally known for his confrontational style, and Gabbard, a former Democrat with unorthodox views on foreign policy, has only deepened concerns about Trump’s intentions for his second term. For many of these officials, the potential for a crackdown feels all too real.

“I feel like I’ve stepped through the looking glass,” the retired Army officer told The Post, as he continued his efforts to secure Italian citizenship. National security lawyer Mark Zaid, who has represented whistleblowers and government employees, is reportedly assisting clients in exploring their options for leaving the country before Trump’s second inauguration. “The reality is that, thankfully, this isn’t the 1930s; we have time to make decisions about what will be done and where people can go,” Zaid explained.

Still, his comments underscore a very real and growing fear within certain circles of former officials who have become critical of Trump’s approach to governance. The fear is that Trump’s second term could be marked by a more determined effort to target dissenters, particularly those who have publicly criticized his administration or policy decisions. For these former officials, the potential for retribution—through legal means or otherwise—feels like a legitimate threat.

The hypothetical scenario that they once brushed off as paranoia has, in their minds, taken on a plausible edge. This unease marks a significant contrast to the typical transitions of power in Washington. In most circumstances, officials from a former administration simply return to private life or take up positions elsewhere. But for those who served Trump and later spoke out against him, that path may no longer feel safe.

And with Trump’s cabinet choices reflecting a more aggressive stance toward perceived enemies, the fear among these former officials continues to grow. As Trump prepares to assume office once more, the question remains: Will these former officials find refuge abroad, or will their fears prove unfounded? For now, they watch and wait, wondering if their former roles in the government will ultimately place them in harm’s way in a new era of Trump’s America.