Michael Flynn, Donald Trump’s former national security adviser and a driving force behind the ReAwaken America Tour, has a new show he’s taking on the road, a 127-minute hagiographic documentary chronicling his fight against the “Deep State” — a shadowy cabal of government operatives that Flynn insists are fixated on destroying him and his former boss.
“I’m surprised they haven’t killed me,” Flynn tells the camera in “Flynn.” “I’m surprised they’ve let me continue to live.”
“Flynn,” the film, poses as a straight-laced documentary but is starkly silent about Flynn’s current mission: spreading the gospel of Christian nationalism and preparing his followers to wage spiritual warfare, starting by taking over local politics.
The film’s goal seems to be to rewrite history and bolster Flynn’s credibility as a spiritual leader. After all, to Flynn’s followers, the “Deep State” isn’t just a political enemy, it’s a spiritual one, and the only way to serve God and save America is to destroy it.
According to Flynn’s narrative in the film, his Deep State troubles really began in 2010, when the lieutenant general, then director of intelligence for the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, published a frank assessment (via private think tank) of ongoing intelligence failures in Afghanistan. That report rankled the powers that be, according to the movie — in reality, the report was well-received and endorsed by the secretary of defense at the time.
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But from that point on, Flynn claims, “they” were on a mission to silence and destroy him via “baseless” accusations and fraudulent prosecution efforts.
In that sense, “Flynn” might be considered a counter to the 2022 Frontline/PBS documentary “Michael Flynn’s Holy War,” which told the tale of a once-respected lieutenant general who had served in the Obama White House as well as Trump’s before getting pulled into QAnon conspiracy theories, shady foreign dealings and Christian nationalism. Instead “Flynn” mythologizes its subject as a renegade who perseveres against all odds, standing up to malevolent forces in defense of “the truth.”
“He’s the only person who could have withstood this type of evil, this unfathomable domestic evil, and beat it, too,” said Flynn’s sister, Clare Flynn Eckert, as the camera panned to a gold statue of an angel holding a sword in front of an American flag. “He was meant for this time.”
The film premiered April 5 at a community center in Sarasota County, Florida, and will screen at 32 other locations, mostly municipal buildings, barns and church halls, across 25 states in the next two months. Tickets start at $35, but for $200 you get a photo op with Flynn and a “Flynn” film swag bag.
So far, the screenings seem to have attracted decent crowds and have featured prayer circles and drawn QAnon influencers as well as state senators, including Arizona State Sen. Wendy Rogers.
A week after the film became available on Amazon, it had sold over 4,000 copies, climbed to No. 31 in Movies and DVD, and No. 1 in the “Special Interests” category, beating out the Ken Burns National Parks collection, a line-dancing instructional DVD and the musical “Annie.”
Besides the film’s glaring absence of any mention of Flynn’s yearslong “ReAwaken” tour, which has taken Christian nationalism to suburbs and small towns across the country to recruit an “Army of God,” the film also fails to touch on the violent Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol.
Flynn was one of the biggest proponents of the “Stop the Steal” conspiracy and spoke at an event in Washington, D.C., the day before the riot. When Flynn was deposed by the House Committee investigating the riot, he repeatedly took the fifth in response to questions about whether violence that day was justified.
Nor does the film mention QAnon, a conspiracy theory that he’s flirted with over the years — although Tracy Beanz, an early adopter of the movement, appears as a talking head in the film as an “independent journalist.”
But other conspiracy theories, in addition to the overarching “Deep State” narrative, are sprinkled across the film, including the idea that President John F. Kennedy was assassinated by the intelligence community for speaking out against corruption. “We’ve gone from the physical assassination of a president of the United States, to a character assassination of a national security adviser,” he says.
Early on in the film, he leads former Fox News host Tucker Carlson into a room that is papered from floor to ceiling with a Flynn “conspiracy board”: a massive timeline consisting of printed out articles and yarn connecting various events.
While the documentary focuses primarily on his claim that the Deep State tried to ruin him and his family, the film’s credits reveal ties to influential culture warriors, his ReAwaken tour and election deniers.
The film was made by Aquidneck Island Productions LLC, named for an area of Flynn’s home state of Rhode Island. Business records indicate that the LLC is in the name of Magda Mellor, wife of businessman Victor Mellor, a top lieutenant in Flynn’s culture war.
Mellor is the owner of “The Hollow,” a gathering-place in Sarasota County for activists and Christian nationalists, including Proud Boys, that offers free shooting lessons for kids as young as six.
The film’s credits give special thanks to a number of pro-Trump personalities, including Alfie Oakes, a farmer, MAGA influencer and political donor based in Florida. They also thank Jim Breuer, a former Saturday Night Live cast member who has participated in the ReAwaken tour, and Raj Doraisamy, a Florida-based election conspiracy theorist with close ties to pillow entrepreneur Mike Lindell.
In addition to Carlson and Beanz, other talking heads in the documentary include former U.S. Rep. Devin Nunes, an avowed Trump supporter, five of Flynn’s siblings and Trump’s top election fraud lawyer, Jesse Binall.
The ocean is a motif for Flynn’s battle against political foes. He talks about how he nearly drowned in legal fees to defend himself from charges of lying to the FBI about his meetings with former Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyah in December 2016. He also admitted taking hundreds of thousands of dollars from the Turkish government while failing to register as an agent of a foreign government.
Flynn’s legal defense fund, launched in 2017 by his family, evolved into a network of conspiratorial websites and companies, with names like “Digital Soldiers LLC,” a term used by QAnon, and Resilient Patriot LLC. None of those organizations are mentioned in the film.
“The American people were coming into my life, and there was a moment where I felt like air was being breathed into my lungs instead of being pounded down into the surface of the ocean,” said Flynn. “I’m above the surface and starting to swim to shore.”
“These supportive people, these American people,” his brother Jack Flynn said. “He calls it buddy breathing. Being able to come through financially.”
“If we pull together and we drive this darkness out, then we can touch the whole world,” said his sister Mary O’Neill, identified as a “prayer warrior.”
Tess Owen is an award-winning freelance reporter and writer, and contributor to Religion News Service.
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17 Responses
Flynn & the lot of them are properly misguided with this their caustic ‘reawaken’ rhetoric. It is misguided Zealotry born of fear, thrives on fear & driven by fear of man. Scripture calls it “zeal without knowledge”.
And so, I call to remembrance the word of the LORD spoken thru the collective ancients, & as apropos for our times, even today:
“The LORD has not given us the spirit of fear (of man), but of love, of power and of sound mind. Do not take as conspiracy what this people call conspiracy. Do not fear what they fear. RATHER! Fear the LORD. And HE shall be a sanctuary for you, and a snare to the wicked.
“Woe to these prophets who see lying visions concerning a great America, that follow their own spirit and prophesy out of their own deceived hearts. This slogan “MAGA”, I will cause to cease; and it shall no more be used in your days. This country that you so idolize, I will rend with my east wind, and it shall fall. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this and will hasten it in its time”.
I have to admit that I was not expecting a response like the one you gave. I’m going to be frank and tell you that I think it is a bit over the top, but I would also admit that I find your challenge helpful as I pray about all of this. I hope that you will be able to read what respondent Cathy Beoucher writes with the kind of openness with which I accorded to your response.
So, Flynn says, “I’m surprised they haven’t killed me.”
When people are surprised that something hasn’t happened, that often means that they were wrong about what they assumed to be true. I’m going to go out on a limb and suggest that Flynn’s assumptions are wrong, and that the grounds for not taking his arguments too seriously are even embedded in this Flynn-friendly documentary.
It’s blasphemous to spin and misquote scripture by interjecting ones own words, and attributing them to God for the purpose of propagating a political bent. Prophecying (presuming to speak for The Almighty) that God is out to destroy conservatives and the US is dangerous business. Read Jeremiah to learn what God says to false prophets, to those who presume to speak in His name falsely.
It seems, more and more, this website goes after those of us who love God and pray for revival in our country. Meanwhile hundreds of left leaning , sophisticated, elite churches and organizations where the LGBT (etc.) flag proudly flys are not ever taken to task. The pink and light blue stripes which represent the approval and affirmation of childhood mutilation must be a joy to Molech, the god who required the Ammonites to burn their children on unholy alters. People who wear the dreaded MAGA hats can’t be be nearly as offensive to God as those who sacrifice children to the horrors of the Left.
“Deliver the truth. Whatever the cost.”
Perhaps Flynn hopes to deliver his version of the truth to recoup whatever costs were incurred?
Flynn, Clay Clark & many others in their “movement” are satanic cabal controlled opposition. Research for yourself; note photos of Clark with 1 eye symbolism (Illuminati) & the satanic hand signs they use. Read the website of Adrian John Wells who was raped & trafficked as a child to the satanic cabal & Flynn was part of it. The evil that’s been hidden from us for so long is astounding. God is revealing the truth, opening the eyes & ears of His children & giving them discernment to now know the truth & recognize those who are part of this demonic organization. Praise God, their time is almost up; the tares will be gone & satan will be bound for 1000 years!
I’ve been following your career since before you started to speculate about whether Jerry Jenkins would turn out to be the kind of man we all hope and pray he will be. One “day” all hidden things will be revealed.
I’m just a 71 yr old guy who lives about four miles from Wheaton College. I’m recently diagnosed with 3rd stage kidney disease and am coming to grips with many things including some hard truths about my life and a very mediocre career in the Christian publishing industry. I’m sure I love Christ our God, our Savior and Redeemer:
I imagine you are busier than a one-armed wall-paperer but I would really enjoy having lunch with you.
I’m sorry to hear of your diagnosis. My husband, Neal, and I would love to connect, if we can make it work. Blessings to you.
I don’t agree with Flynn’s actions in the re-awaken America tour, but I am a career Army guy with some insight into the man. Inside the military the Flynn clan (Mike has several siblings who have served) has a stellar reputation for integrity and courage, not only in battle, but in organizational struggles and challenges.
This article appears to be largely true, but its also misleading in places. It ignores the truth that Flynn was run out of the intelligence community because he was an outsider brought in to bring institutional changes, and that the FBI did set him up in the interview that led to his ouster from Trump’s team, and that the FBI did in fact falsify the documentation of their interview with him to make him appear guilty when he wasn’t. In the world of DC politics, Flynn has been done dirty, repeatedly. His complaints of a deep state are rather compelling, even if it isn’t a giant shadowy cabal, there are definitely secret halls of power in DC, federal government, and the military and intelligence communities.
I guess you overlook the sedition part Flynn supported and encouraged regarding Jan 6th. General Arnold of the Revolutionary War was also a courageous and heroic battlefield commander. As a career Army guy then perhaps you are familiar with the UCMJ,, specifically Article 94.
Here is part of the transcript in his testimony in Congress regarding Jan 6th.
“Cheney: Do you believe the violence on January 6 was justified morally?
Flynn: Take the Fifth.
Cheney: Do you believe the violence on January 6 was justified legally?
Flynn: Fifth
Cheney: Do you believe in the peaceful transition of power in the United States of America?
Flynn: The Fifth”
Flynn cited his right not to incriminate himself when asked directly whether he believes in the peaceful transition of power. He refused to answer whether he believes in a principle that sits at the heart of our Constitutional Republic. He did this as the former national security adviser to the the President of the United States and a longtime member of the US military. Looks to me ignored the oath he took as an officer in the US Army.
Maybe someone should ask the same questions of you that Cheney asked Flynn.
Charles,
You said, “Maybe someone should ask the same questions of you that Cheney asked Flynn.”
How Christian of you to respond to a stranger civilly stating facts with insinuation and slander. And how irrelevant to a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven. I confess no arbitrary loyalty clause to the flag, but to the cross. You are further engaged in sin by ignoring the truth of what I said and trying to obfuscate it by bringing up unrelated information.
Both Flynn’s testimony regarding the Jan 6th event and the FBI’s conduct can be true simultaneously. He can be a man of courage and integrity with a good reputation in a certain arena and not share your convictions (or mine). I invite you to repent of your un-Christian behavior.
I dispute that Flynn is a man of courage and conviction. The fact that he refused to answer a simple Yes or No question regarding our Constitutional process of transfer of power (by which he swore by oath he would uphold and defend) demonstrates otherwise. In other words, he cannot stand by his oath or did not take it seriously to begin with. The fact that you casually dismiss his inability to do so as merely “not sharing the same convictions” shows are blinded and begs the question about how seriously you took your oath when you were in the Army. And to put it biblically, Flynn did not make his Yes be Yes and his No be No in both his Jan 6 testimony and when he was in the military. I will not back down.
Charles Mallet:
LTG Michael Flynn has been awarded over 20 medals by the U. S. Military. He is a graduate of Ranger School as well.
It takes a great deal of courage to serve in the U. S. Military and a great deal of grit to get through Ranger School.
Countless Americans have pled the fifth – it is a right afforded to all Americans. Perhaps you are not familiar with our judicial system? Character, or a lack of it, has nothing to do with asserting one’s rights during legal questioning and procedures,
His actions, by pleading the fifth in the questioning of Jan 6 seem dishonorable to me.
Dr. Norbeck,
A general named Arnold in American Revolution was a also war hero and awarded medals for courage. But when Flynn was caught on video calling for a Myanmer-style coup on Jan 6th, then that makes him a seditionist. He deserves the the penalty for sedition under Article 94 of the UCMJ. And yet another demonstration of his lack of character and failure to uphold his oath. But then I suspect many so-called Christians (including some on this forum) would have been OK with that coup and thing Jan 6th was no big deal.
Charles Mallet:
Benedict Arnold was trusted by George Washington and was also promoted. That does NOT make him a war hero. He was born a British subject and married into a Loyalist family. Apparently, Americans began to catch on when he started living a rather lavish lifestyle even though he was deeply in debt.
Why do you think he was a war hero? He was a traitor. Although he moved to Canada after the war, he was never liked there and ended up dying in London.
Not one American tied to January 6 has been tried for insurrection. Not one. Perhaps you should dig deeper? Had Americans wanted to overthrow their government, they likely would have used guns and weapons to do so. The only gun victim on January 6 was Ashli Babbitt.
Nice try at deflection. Your attempt at obfuscation by muddying the waters between the 2 terms is clearly obvious and clearly failed.
I did not say insurrection. I said sedition. And Yes, 4 Proud Boys were convicted of Seditious Conspiracy in connection with Jan 6th. Why don’t you read 18 USC Code 2384 below and get back to me:
“If two or more persons in any State or Territory, or in any place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, conspire to overthrow, put down, or to destroy by force the Government of the United States, or to levy war against them, or to oppose by force the authority thereof, or by force to prevent, hinder, or delay the execution of any law of the United States, or by force to seize, take, or possess any property of the United States contrary to the authority thereof, they shall each be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both.”
Second, that video Flynn was encouraging a coup, not executing one. That is why I said sedition. Again, read Article 94 of the UCMJ and get back to me.