Moms for Liberty wanted seat on school board. Trump gave them voice in White House

WASHINGTON– When President Donald Trump signed an executive order against transgender athletes last year, he took a moment to thank Tina Descovich, co-founder and CEO of Moms for Liberty.

Descovich was back at the White House a few months later, sitting alongside the CEOs of Google and IBM to weigh in on artificial intelligence and education policy.

Last month, when first lady Melania Trump hosted a global technology summit in Washington, Descovich was also in attendance.

His presence at the White House underscores the meteoric rise of a group that has made a name for itself in local politics, fighting to win school board seats and end “wokeness” in America’s schools. What began as a fringe of far-right mothers has seen its interests collide with a presidential administration that embraces and amplifies their message, propelling the group to a new level of influence in public policy.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Descovich said she has a voice in discussions about banning transgender sports, AI in education, dismantling the Department of Education and a campaign to end diversity, equity and inclusion.

“We have a seat at the table in a lot of policy discussions within the administration,” Descovich, who lives in Florida, said during a recent visit to Washington. “We are invited to participate in discussions and meetings where some of these things are discussed.”

Supporters say the group’s trajectory is a testament to the power of its “parental rights” agenda, which has become a pillar of conservative politics. Critics are alarmed by its presence at the White House, saying the group promotes extreme views and harms public schools.

Founded five years ago in Florida, the organization became known for challenging classroom teaching it deemed inappropriate for children, often addressing themes related to gender, race or LGBTQ+. He then turned his attention to state capitals, securing legislation like Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law.

It claims more than 300 chapters, with fast-growing revenue from groups like the Heritage Foundation and conservative megadonors including Richard Uihlein.

However, in some ways his influence seemed to be diminishing. School board candidates backed by the group have struggled in elections, and rival liberal groups have risen to compete for power in America’s suburbs.

A series of missteps has fueled ridicule among opponents, including an incident in which an Indiana chapter quoted Adolf Hitler in a newsletter aimed at parents in 2023.

Yet when Trump returned to power, the group’s political fortunes swung upward. His administration is engaging in the same cultural battles that Moms for Liberty has staked its name on, including working to exclude transgender athletes from women’s sports.

By his count, Descovich has been to the White House about a dozen times during this administration.

Descovich was present when Trump signed an order to overhaul the foster care system. She brought more than a dozen members to an event celebrating Women’s History Month in March. Co-founder Tiffany Justice was present when Trump signed an order to dismantle the Department of Education.

For the Trump administration, Moms for Liberty appears to be playing a role often played by groups like the National PTA, said Rick Hess, director of education policy at the conservative think tank American Enterprise Institute. As these institutional groups turn away from Trump, he said, Moms for Liberty has mobilized.

“Moms for Liberty speaks to a very active part of the MAGA community, and education has been a big part of what the administration has focused on over the last 15 months,” he said.

Behind the scenes, Descovich has been an informant for agencies investigating schools regarding transgender sports and bathroom policies. After meeting with Justice Department officials, she filed more than 250 complaints, she said.

“We really are that core team working together to advance President Trump’s agenda,” she said.

Asked about its relationship with Moms for Liberty, the White House declined to elaborate but said Trump was “the most pro-family president in history,” citing his child tax credit among other initiatives.

The White House “is proud to tout these great achievements for American families alongside many leaders,” spokeswoman Olivia Wales said in a statement.

Moms for Liberty also hopes to take its momentum to Congress.

On a recent March morning, more than 100 members fanned out across the Capitol to deliver homemade cookies to lawmakers and their offices. Some brought their children, including a boy wearing a suit and red tie like Trump’s.

House Speaker Mike Johnson stopped to take a photo with a few parents, and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., posted a photo on social media of himself giving a thumbs-up alongside a Moms for Liberty member.

The group’s members call themselves “merry warriors,” a nickname that critics say masks their anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and aggressive tactics. The group has been accused of harassing teachers and school board leaders, calling its opponents “groomers” and “predators.”

Descovich rejects criticism. “From day one, our motto has been: We are happy warriors, because we knew we had to advocate in a way that was acceptable to our children,” she said.

However, she does not hesitate to fight. The group has a deep feud with the Southern Poverty Law Center, which in 2023 labeled the parent group “extremist.”

Late last year, Descovich released a letter urging the federal government to sever ties with the SPLC. The FBI agreed to do so shortly afterward, echoing the language of his letter.

The growing presence of Moms for Liberty at the White House is both troubling and unsurprising, said Seth Levi, SPLC director of program strategy.

This is “further evidence that they are more interested in expressing extremist voices and policies rather than listening to the American people, who are demanding solutions to make their lives easier and more affordable,” Levi said.

The move into federal politics marks a new chapter in the group’s evolution, said Maurice Cunningham, a former political science professor at the University of Massachusetts-Boston who follows the organization and its relationships.

Yet he views the group’s influence as political advocacy rather than parental input. He identifies the group as a close cousin of groups like the Heritage Foundation, which played an influential role during Trump’s second term.

“They’re in the White House, there’s no doubt about it,” he said. “But they are there as voices of the organized institutional right.”

Descovich said the relationship with Trump took root at a 2023 convention where Republican presidential candidates were jostling for the group’s support. When Trump took the stage, he called Moms for Liberty “the best thing that ever happened to America.”

Moms for Liberty has supported Trump, and Descovich said she remains close to her team.

The organization’s latest concern is AI in classrooms, which Moms for Liberty sees as a threat to parental control over education. At a White House meeting, Descovich argued for safeguards to ensure humans guide instruction, not algorithms.

The group is also expanding its national presence with a new online training program called M4L Academy, offering videos on “critical race theory” and other topics the group considers taboo. And while his first trip to Congress was mostly seen as an introduction, he’s gearing up for more.

“We’re not really lobbying for specific bills at the federal level yet,” Descovich said. “That will come next year.”