 Gjems-Onstad praised Progress Party MPs Vidar Kleppe and Øystein Hedstrøm at their election campaign rally in 1999, and participated in the non-partisan demonstration against Muslim prayer calling in 2000.He was involved in the Conservative Party in Asker from 2005 to 2007, but joined the Pensioners' Party in 2007 as their top ballot candidate for the municipal election.As Gjems-Onstad called for a halt of immigration to Asker, he was instantly denounced by his own party.