In a stunning political reversal, Jacob Chansley, the man infamously known as the 'QAnon Shaman' for his role in the 2021 US Capitol riots, has announced he is running for Governor of Arizona while launching a fierce critique of former President Donald Trump.
From Capitol Rioter to Political Candidate
Jake Angeli, who legally is Jacob Angeli-Chansley, became the defining image of the 6 January 2021 insurrection. He was photographed inside the Capitol building wearing a horned fur headdress, his face painted in red, white, and blue, and carrying a spear wrapped in an American flag.
He received a 41-month prison sentence, the longest handed down in approximately 675 riot-related prosecutions, with authorities labelling him the "public face of the Capitol riot". After serving 27 months, he was released early in 2023 for good behaviour and was subsequently pardoned by Donald Trump when the latter returned to office on 20 January 2025.
A Dramatic Political About-Face
Now, the 38-year-old Arizonan has declared his intention to run as an independent candidate in the state's gubernatorial election this November. In a significant break from his past, he has turned his back on the man who pardoned him.
Speaking to The Times, Angeli launched a scathing attack on the current Trump administration, calling it "a corrupt disaster". He criticised its foreign policy, specifically its relationship with Israel, and its handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case files.
He also condemned last week's US special forces operation that removed Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, accusing Trump of "essentially using the American military to commit the armed robbery of a nation".
Angeli's New Political Mission
Angeli framed his decision to run for office as a necessary response to widespread deception. "All warfare is based on deception and the American people have had war declared on them," he stated.
He added, "Since I'm one of the only people that seem to have their wits about them and understand what's actually going on in the world, it is up to me, as far as I'm concerned, to do something about these problems." He further claimed the administration was "just lies, bro, because they're Israel First", asserting that "we don't have our own government".
This marks a profound shift for a figure who once passionately supported Trump. During his 2021 sentencing hearing, Angeli expressed remorse for his "indefensible" actions on January 6th. His lawyer also stated at the time that Angeli wished to shed the 'QAnon Shaman' moniker.
His campaign for the Arizona governor's mansion will test whether a figure synonymous with one of America's most divisive modern events can reinvent himself as a credible political independent.
