Washington — When President Donald Trump signed an executive order Against transgender athletes Last year, he took a moment to thank Tina Deskovic, co-founder and CEO Mothers for Freedom.
Deskovic returned to the White House a few months later, where he sat alongside the CEOs of Google and IBM to weigh in on the matter. artificial intelligence And education policy.
Last month, when First Lady Melania Trump hosted a global event The pinnacle of technology In Washington, Deskovic was there, too.
Her presence in the White House highlights the rapid rise of a group that has made its name in domestic politics and is fighting for its survival. Winning school board seats And ending “wokeness” in American 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, launching the group to a new level of influence in public policy.
In an interview with The Associated Press, Deskovic said she has a voice in the discussions around her Transgender sports banArtificial intelligence in education, Dismantling the Directorate of Education And drive to end Diversity, equity and inclusion.
“We have a seat at the table in many policy discussions throughout the administration,” Deskovic, 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 indicates the strength of the “parental rights” agenda, which has become a pillar of conservative politics. Critics are concerned about its presence in the White House, saying the group promotes extremist views and undermines public schools.
Founded five years ago in Florida, the organization has become known for its challenge Classroom instructions It has been deemed unsuitable for children, often relating to gender, race, or LGBTQ+ themes. It was later transformed into the state capital, to secure legislation such as Florida’s “Don’t say gay” law.
It claims over 300 chapters, with a sharply increasing revenue stream from collections such as Heritage Foundation And conservative mega-donors, including Richard Uhlen.
However, by some measures, its influence appeared to be waning. School board candidates approved by the group He fought in the electionsRival liberal groups rose to vie for power in America’s suburbs.
A series of mistakes led to ridicule among opponents, including an incident involving the Indiana branch Quoted by Adolf Hitler In the Parent Bulletin in 2023.
However, when Trump returned to office, the group’s political fortunes swung upward. His administration is accused of the same cultural battles that Mothers for Freedom has waged in its name, including pushing to keep transgender athletes out of women’s sports.
By her count, Deskovic visited the White House about a dozen times during this administration.
Deskovic was present when Trump signed an order reforming the foster care system. She brought more than a dozen members to a gala honoring Women’s History Month in March. Co-founder Tiffany Justice was present when Trump signed an order dismantling the Department of Education.
For the Trump administration, Mothers for Freedom appears to be playing a role often filled by groups like the National PTA, said Rick Hess, director of education policy at the American Enterprise Institute think tank. As those institutional groups became alienated from Trump, Mothers for Freedom stepped up, he said.
“Mothers for Freedom 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, Deskovic served as a mentor to agencies investigating the schools Transgender sports and Bathroom policies. She said that after meeting with Ministry of Justice officials, she filed more than 250 complaints.
“We really are this grassroots team working side by side to help advance President Trump’s agenda,” she said.
In response to a question about his relationship with Mothers for Freedom, the White House declined to provide details, but said that Trump is “the most pro-family president in history,” citing the child tax credit among other initiatives.
White House spokeswoman Olivia Wells said in a statement that the White House is “proud to promote these great accomplishments for American families alongside so many leaders.”
Mothers for Freedom hopes to take its momentum to Congress as well.
One morning last March, more than 100 members fanned out across Capitol Hill, delivering homemade cupcakes to lawmakers and their offices. Some brought their children, including a boy wearing a red suit and tie like Trump’s.
Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson He posed for a photo with a few parents, and Sen. Lindsey Graham, D-R.C., posted a photo on social media of himself giving a thumbs-up next to the Mothers for Freedom member.
Members of the group call themselves the “Cheer Warriors,” a moniker that critics say masks their aggressive anti-LGBT rhetoric and tactics. The group has been accused of harassing teachers and school board leaders, calling its opponents “cleaners” and “predators.”
Deskovic rejects the criticism. “Our motto, from day one, was that we were cheer warriors, because we knew we needed to defend in a way that was appropriate for our kids to watch,” she said.
However, she is not shy about fighting. The group has a deep feud with the Southern Poverty Law Center, which in 2023 described the parent group as “extremist.”
Late last year, Deskovic led a letter urging the federal government to sever ties with the SPLC. The FBI agreed to do so shortly after, reiterating the language in her letter.
Seth Levy, SPLC’s chief program strategy officer, said Mothers for Freedom’s presence in the White House is troubling and not surprising.
This is “further evidence that they are more interested in spreading extremist voices and policies rather than listening to the American people, who are demanding solutions that make their lives easier and more affordable,” Levy said.
The leap into federal politics represents a new chapter in the group’s evolution, said Maurice Cunningham, a former political science professor at the University of Massachusetts Boston who tracks the organization and its connections.
However, he sees the group’s influence as political advocacy rather than parent input. He identifies the group as close to groups like the Heritage Foundation, which has been influential in Trump’s second term.
“They are in the White House, there is no doubt,” he said. “But they are there as a voice for the organized institutional right wing.”
Deskovic said that the relationship with Trump was solidified 2023 agreement As Republican presidential candidates jostled for the group’s endorsement. When Trump took the stage, he called Mothers for Freedom “the best thing that ever happened to America.”
Mothers for Freedom He threw his weight Behind Trump, Deskovic said she remained close to his team.
The organization’s latest concern is artificial intelligence in classrooms, which Mothers for Freedom sees as a threat to parental control over education. At a White House meeting, Deskovic called for guardrails to ensure humans direct instructions, not algorithms.
It is also expanding its national presence through a new online training program called M4L Academy, which features videos on “critical race theory” and other topics the group considers taboo. While her first trip to Congress was mostly viewed as an introduction, she is preparing for more.
“We are not lobbying for any specific bills at the federal level yet,” Deskovic said. “That will come next year.”