GROYPERS

Who are the Groypers?

The Groyper movement is a loose network of white nationalist activists and internet trolls

who gravitate around several key online influencers. Their goal is to push and normalize white

nationalist ideas within mainstream conservatism. Self-named after the ‘Groyper’ toad image,

which became popular as an explicitly racist-coded variation of the Pepe the Frog meme often

affiliated with the 'alt-right', the Groypers emerged offline as a movement in 2019 and

followed the decline of the alt-right. Initially followers of the 'America First' podcast host Nick

Fuentes, they describe themselves as 'American nationalists' and hold similar beliefs to the

alt-right.

Groypers represent a new momentum within American white nationalism. They have a

particular focus on capturing members of Generation Z, and in portraying themselves as

American Christian nationalists, hope to attract disaffected conservatives by exploiting

schisms and grievances within mainstream conservatism.

 

Key Figures

Nick Fuentes

A holocaust denier and former YouTuber, Nick Fuentes is the host of the 'America First'

podcast and considered to be the leader of the Groypers. Fuentes first rose to prominence

when he left Boston University after he reported receiving threats in response to his

attendance at the 2017 Charlottesville Unite the Right Rally. He went on to establish the

America First Political Action Conference (AFPAC), a rival to the annual Conservative Political

Action Conference (CPAC).

Patrick Casey

Patrick Casey is the former leader of the American Identity Movement (formerly Identity

Evropa), a white supremacist organization disbanded in November 2020. In February 2021

Casey split from the Groyper movement over the fear of federal informant infiltration.

Michelle Malkin

Michelle Malkin is a conservative political commentator and self-described “mommy” of the

Groypers. The former Fox contributor, who joined Newsmax TV in May 2021, has spoken at

America First events.

Jacob Lloyd

Jacob Lloyd is a former YouTuber and Infowars contributor. He spoke at the Groyper

Leadership Summit in 2019 and claims to have had a leading role in formulating the questions

asked by Groypers at conservative events.

Baked Alaska

Real name Anthime Gionet, Baked Alaska is a neo-Nazi live streamer and Groyper follower

who was arrested for his role in storming the US Capitol building on January 6 2021. During

the riot, he wore Pit Viper sunglasses, which have since been adopted as a symbol by the

Groypers.

Jaden McNeil

Jaden McNeil is the former President of the Kansas State University chapter of Turning Point

USA (TPUSA). McNeil left TPUSA because of their “culture of censorship” and founded

Groyper rival organization America First Students.

Vincent James

Vincent James is a former YouTuber with the second-highest following of the Groypers on

Telegram after Fuentes, with over 41,400 users following his channel. He has also spoken at

AFPAC events