John Cowan’s Evolving Stance on Trump in Political Race
John Cowan is vying for the 11th District seat being vacated by Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.). Interestingly, he has a history of criticizing Donald Trump in interviews and on social media, though those posts have since been removed.
Federal Election Commission (FEC) records show that Cowan contributed $2,500 on March 4, 2021, to Future First Leadership PAC, which was established by then-Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois. Kinzinger, known for being one of Trump’s most vocal critics, was trying to rally the Republican Party against Trump. Just five days after Cowan’s donation, a report from CNN highlighted Kinzinger’s challenge of convincing his party to see the need for change.
In an April 2021 statement to USA Today, Cowan remarked that, prior to Trump, he hadn’t observed such unwavering loyalty toward a leader within the conservative movement. He characterized Trump as a dynamic leader who emerged during a time when the party was struggling after the Obama years. However, he expressed concerns that some in the party had excessively idolized Trump.
Archived posts from X reveal a series of critiques from Cowan aimed at Trump and his influence within the Republican Party. On January 17, 2021, Cowan shared his belief that while Trump’s impeachment had flaws, he deserved punishment for his actions. He called for readers to consider the arguments put forth in the matter. Almost a month later, on February 12, 2021, he stated that the Republican Party should channel the energy created by Trump while returning to its constitutional roots.
Cowan also voiced strong opinions following the events of January 6, 2021, dubbing it the “Trump Insurrection” and emphasized the importance of future generations understanding the implications of that day. By January 15, 2022, he suggested that Trump should heed advice to stop discussing the 2020 election, likening his repetition to that of a “drunk uncle.” A couple of weeks later, he reiterated his views, stating that the party could not truly support conservative values if Trump held any leadership role.
Later in November 2022, Cowan questioned whether Trump was mimicking the tactics of Marjorie Taylor Greene, implying that both figures could be detrimental to the party. When Trump released a digital trading card collection in December 2022, Cowan remarked that he viewed Trump as “not a serious presidential candidate.”
A neurosurgeon from northern Georgia, Cowan previously ran in the Republican primary for Georgia’s 14th Congressional District in 2020 but lost to Marjorie Taylor Greene.
