Mike Flynn Alleges Pence and Paul Ryan Conspired to Oust Trump During First Term
Retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, a former national security adviser to President Donald Trump and longtime figure in U.S. military intelligence, made explosive allegations last week, claiming that former Vice President Mike Pence and former House Speaker Paul Ryan secretly conspired to remove Trump from office during his first term.
In a wide-ranging interview with conservative commentator Benny Johnson, Flynn said the two Republican leaders were part of a covert effort to sideline Trump during the 2016 campaign and early presidency—positioning themselves to assume control should Trump step aside amid controversy.
Flynn zeroed in on the fallout from the infamous “Access Hollywood” tape that surfaced just weeks before the 2016 election. According to Flynn, the tape, which featured Trump making crude remarks about women, triggered a behind-the-scenes power play within the Republican establishment.
“Paul Ryan and Mike Pence wanted Trump out during the very famous… ‘pu**y tapes,’” Flynn said bluntly. “At that time, there were discussions between Ryan, [then-RNC chair] Reince Priebus, and Pence about a backup plan. They thought Trump might walk away, and they were ready to step right in if he did.”
Flynn alleged that this episode exemplified the broader divide within the GOP—between Trump’s populist “America First” agenda and what he calls the entrenched political class or “Uniparty.” He warned that many within the Republican Party are not allies of the populist movement, despite appearances.
“This is where the ‘Uniparty’ steps in, and the Uniparty is one of the biggest problems we face,” Flynn said. “They don’t want to accept that we are in the midst of a revolution and a Marxist takeover.”
Flynn, who previously served as head of the Defense Intelligence Agency under President Barack Obama, claimed that the Obama administration marked the beginning of a larger ideological shift toward socialism. He framed the Obama presidency—and the expected succession by Hillary Clinton—as part of a calculated effort to fundamentally transform the United States.
“There’s no reason in the world Barack Obama should have ever won the first time around, but he did,” Flynn argued. “Eight years of Barack, eight years of Hillary—we’d be done. That was the plan.”
As the conversation turned to the present, Flynn emphasized the role he believes Trump must now play in confronting what he views as a corrupted political system. He called on Trump to wield the full extent of his presidential powers—including pardon authority and national emergency declarations—in order to confront entrenched opposition and hold bad actors accountable.
“Trump has a lot of leadership authority that’s been given to him by the judgment of the American people,” Flynn said. “He’s going to have to make decisions about who to hold accountable.”
He continued: “People forget—the chief law enforcement officer in the country isn’t the Attorney General. It’s the President of the United States. He has sole pardon authority and the ability to make national security declarations. That’s where we are right now. Enough is enough.”
Flynn’s remarks reflect a growing sentiment among segments of the MAGA movement that the political opposition Trump faces is not only external but embedded within the Republican establishment itself. His accusations, if taken seriously by Trump’s base, may further deepen the divide between populist conservatives and traditional party leadership ahead of the 2024 election cycle.
Neither Pence nor Ryan has publicly responded to Flynn’s claims.