The Weight of a Grifters Ambition

MagAmericans.com

Grifter: A grifter is a person who engages in deception or fraud to gain money, influence, or other benefits, often by exploiting trust or manipulating others. Grifters typically use charm, persuasion, or false promises to scam their targets into believing . The term originates from early 20th-century American slang, linked to "graft" (corrupt gain). In modern contexts, it’s often applied to individuals who exploit social, political, or cultural movements for personal benefit, such as influencers or activists who monetize causes without genuine commitment.

I’ve met a lot of great people during my time working with patriot groups. Sadly I’ve also met quite a few grifters. People who were only with the movement to have somewhere to stay, somewhere to hide. Some tried to turn themselves into celebrities. Some were even running from the law. They always had one thing in common. They did not care about the mission. They were not there for the mission. They were there for their mission. They still are.

It is an unfortunate truth that the Patriot movement is vulnerable to grifters. Grifters undermine a movement’s goals and credibility in pursuit of their own personal gain. It is just something most movements, especially those that garner any success, are victims of.

Crafting a tragedy to garner sympathy. A great loss, health concern, false persecution, or mounting financial woes are some tools used in their emotion manipulation. Sometimes you’ll hear claims that they are just trying to help a vulnerable group.

Ephesians 5:11-13: “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.”

Those who know me understand that I am not one to seek out conflict and I do not enjoy drama. I am typically content to let others walk their paths without interference. My focus is on other topics. I have no appetite for petty disputes or airing dirty laundry in public. When I choose to speak, when I cast light into the shadows of deceit, you can trust that this is not something motivated by spite. Of course this is my opinion. Simply a refusal to silently let good people be crushed beneath the weight of a grifter’s ambition.

There are not too many things that bother me more than seeing honest patriots exploited by predators. I won’t stand for it. It’s the same fire that drove me to shine a light into the dark corners of The People’s Convoy, a grift that preyed on the hopes of the faithful and patriotic. The best among us, and some of the most trusting. When I witness bad actors, or grifters abusing the trust of people who simply want to believe in a better nation, it hits a nerve deep within me. I cannot stand the sight of good hearts bled dry by those who wear patriotism or faith as a mask.

Proverbs 12:22: “The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.”

So many grifters cloak themselves in the image of a patriot. Sometimes they try to present themselves as a strong Christian. However, these are often costumes draped over putrid reputations. They never live up to their claims. Eventually they slip and expose their true nature.

Grifters populate the halls of federal, state, and local governments as well. Trading their votes or influence for “campaign contributions”. They have sold out the people that they are supposed to represent. All in pursuit of the almighty dollar.

I’ve met many predatory grifters who seem to slither through life. Using deceit to ensnare the trusting, hopeful, and the unaware. Their existence is a relentless pursuit of self-interest but they work hard to create an image of service and sacrifice. Fooling the people. Lying, and manipulating their way toward fame or donations. Typing away all hours of the night and day on social media in an attempt to build a respectable but fictional character. Often painting themselves as a patriot and a Christian. Usually the paint chips away easily and we can see their reputation lies in tatters. Made up of lies and half-truths.

Within the movement there have been many looking for ways to grow their bank accounts with a carefully crafted public image of virtue and valor. Keeping supporters unaware of the rot beneath the surface. Those of us who have seen these grifters and how they operate when the cameras are off have seen the true unedited character. No Chat GPT necessary. We know the truth. The image they build is a hollow construct, a facade as fragile as glass or a wobbling house of cards. Their reputations, in my opinion, are far from anything that could be considered noble. Rather they are often a cesspool of broken trust and exploited goodwill. Thriving on the ignorance of others, while hiding insatiable greed under the image of righteousness.

I’ve met many of them.

One particularly shameless grifter who shall remain nameless because he has proven to be inconsequential despite his self-aggrandizing claims of “being in the fight”. Usually right before providing 3, 4, or sometimes 5 different places to donate to his “work”.

He recently tried to victimize a friend of mine. That is what sparked this piece; however this is a movement wide problem. It is bigger than him, and that is saying a lot. It is just too easy for these grifters to create a new public image online when they screw up their reputations. Reputations that take years to build up. Grifters aren’t willing to put in the work or the time to do that. They are not interested and they don’t have the integrity even if they were.

Their real reputations are often a collection of stolen achievements and the triumphs of others that they claim as their own. The reality is that his contributions are negligible, his efforts dwarfed by the shadow of his ego. Yet he has the audacity to try and stand in the spotlight, as if it were his birthright.

Lest we forget the video of a certain man in black encouraging and demanding violence on J6. That man tried hard to fan the flames of chaos that day. There is plenty of video. The man in black’s actions were not those of a patriot but of an instigator. It is a glaring testament to the character of the person. Standing with those few J6’ers who fueled the frenzy, only to slink away and recast himself as a victim, a martyr in a narrative of his own making.

For years these greedy, envious, slothful, and gluttonous grifters have enjoyed basking in the glow of unearned praise. One recently targeted a friend of mine, Jamie. A woman whose heart beats with genuine patriotism. Her unwavering compassion has been on display since she got involved in the movement. Jamie is the antithesis of this grifter. A selfless soul who would strip the shirt from her back to clothe a stranger in need. For years her mission has been to rescue those ensnared by the fallout of January 6 and to shield America from the creeping grip of tyranny. She is a beacon of integrity, her years of tireless work a testament to her character.

Yet this particular grifter, ever the opportunist, has set his sights on Jamie’s hard work and dedication. Like a thief in the shadows creeping around dark corners he looks to steal her accomplishments. When held to account for his behavior he, as I have experienced myself, unleashes a predictable flood of childish insults and slurs in an attempt to tarnish Jamie’s reputation. Or anyone else who speaks up against his grifting ways. They get the block button. No soup for you!

Such horrible behavior should ignite a righteous outrage within all of us. Yet it rarely seems to do so. Which is disappointing but in reality, what can really be done about it? People lie every day on the internet. For those with no morals it is a playground where they can reinvent themselves without effort or integrity.

Speaking out against narcissistic grifters is a start, but is that all we can do to protect honest people? We should not stand by while a good woman is slandered by such a shameless fraud. Too many stay silent, whispering behind closed doors, “That’s just how they operate,” or “What can we do?”. “He has done things like this before.” This reluctance to hold peers accountable only emboldens those who exploit the movement for personal gain, poisoning its integrity.

So, what can we do? First, we must speak up boldly, shining a light on the dark corners where these greedy grifters thrive. We cannot control whether others see the truth or cling to illusions, but we can control where we direct our support. Do we truly know the people we back? What is their reputation? Are they doing nothing of consequence while asking for your money to fund their “work”.

Proverbs 10:9: “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.”

How do we purge these parasites?

Our time, money, and trust are limited resources. We must be discerning and responsible in where we invest them, ensuring we support those who uphold the movement’s values rather than exploit it for selfish ends. When we discover a grifter we must do more than ignore or block them. We must ring the alarm and help to protect other patriots from the grift. If we don’t then the grifters will be free to continue their evil ways, destroying a movement’s morale and driving good people away from that movement or person that is worthy of their support.

Don’t only be cautious, be courageous. Help preserve your fellow patriots avoid these grifter vultures that circle above.