Some very big accusations were made.
A Republican political strategist has strongly criticized recent efforts—especially those backed by Russian influence—to push for California and Texas to secede from the United States. These secessionist movements have been gaining momentum in recent years, with some local groups actively promoting the idea of splitting from the Union. However, the implications of these efforts, particularly if successful, could have devastating consequences for the nation’s unity and stability.
Ron Nehring, a former California Republican Party chair and spokesperson for Ted Cruz’s 2016 presidential campaign, recently voiced his concerns about these movements. He highlighted that, while California and Texas are vital to the U.S. economy—holding some of the largest GDPs in the nation—calls for secession threaten to destabilize not only the political landscape but also the economy. The idea of secession, while unconstitutional, continues to stir up national divisions.
In a recent op-ed for Flash Report, Nehring pointed out the foreign influence behind these secessionist efforts. He argued that the Kremlin is not necessarily seeking a complete breakup of the United States but is instead using its propaganda apparatus to sow discord by making the idea of secession seem more plausible. Russian-backed social media accounts have been promoting these movements, with Russian officials like Dmitry Medvedev even joking about supporting them. Nehring called it “the most delusional, impractical, and Kremlin-cheered pipe dream of our time,” while noting that its proponents often try to claim the movement is purely “homegrown.”
Despite the conspiracy theories and foreign influence, secession movements, like “Calexit” in California and “Texit” in Texas, continue to push forward. Marcus Evans, a leader of the California independence campaign, insisted that this is the best moment to push for Calexit, arguing that the state is now better positioned for independence than in previous years. Similarly, Daniel Miller, who leads the Texas Nationalist Movement, dismissed Nehring’s claims as baseless and argued that Texans simply want the right to self-govern.
However, the U.S. Constitution remains clear on the matter—secession is not an option. The issue was settled in 1869 by a Supreme Court ruling following the Civil War, which firmly established that no state has the right to break away from the Union.
Even if California’s petition for a secession vote garners the required signatures and is placed on the ballot in 2028, the outcome would not change the legal status of the state. It would merely serve as a symbolic expression of discontent—a “vote of no confidence” in the federal government.
While these movements continue to gain attention, it is critical for Republicans to stay united in defense of American sovereignty and reject any efforts, foreign or domestic, to tear the country apart.
