Megyn Kelly clarified her political affiliation following the Republican Party’s losses in the 2026 midterm elections. The conservative podcaster also criticized President Donald Trump‘s response to the results and urged the GOP to reconsider its political strategy.
During her Nov. 4 podcast, Kelly emphasized that she had maintained her independent voter registration for two decades despite her conservative political views.
Megyn Kelly distances herself from the GOP after its midterm defeat
Kelly, 55, addressed her political identity while discussing the Republican Party’s performance in the Nov. 3 elections.
“I’m a registered independent. I’m more right-leaning, I think, than your average independent, because when we hear how the independents feel, I’m always like, oh wow, how are they so easily swayed? But I’m not a Republican,” she said.
According to OK!, the podcaster explained that she had previously registered with both major political parties before becoming an independent approximately 20 years earlier.
She also ruled out returning to either party because she disagreed with their political direction.
However, Kelly did not dismiss every policy associated with Trump’s MAGA movement.
She credited the president with bringing attention to issues affecting working-class Americans. Nevertheless, she argued that the Republican Party needed to retain its effective policies while abandoning unsuccessful approaches.
Kelly also urged GOP politicians to move beyond internal divisions and rebuild their party following the GOP midterms setback.
Her criticism extended to Trump’s influence over Republican candidates.
“You can’t ride the Trump coattails anymore. They are non-existent. He cannot save you,” Kelly declared.
She rejected Trump’s suggestion that Republicans would have performed significantly better if he had appeared on the ballot. Kelly argued that voters had already considered his leadership and policies when making their decisions.
The podcaster also accused Trump of refusing to accept responsibility for the election results.
She pointed to his criticism of Fox News and Republican candidates while noting that he had previously encouraged voters to treat the elections as a referendum on his presidency.
Despite her criticism, Kelly maintained that Republicans could recover from the losses. She referenced previous elections in which political parties suffered major defeats before regaining support within a few years.
Kelly ultimately encouraged Republicans to reconsider their direction rather than continue relying on Trump’s popularity.
