{"id":43873,"date":"2025-09-12T21:00:11","date_gmt":"2025-09-13T04:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/?p=43873"},"modified":"2025-09-12T21:06:17","modified_gmt":"2025-09-13T04:06:17","slug":"is-tyler-robinson-a-groyper","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/2025\/09\/12\/is-tyler-robinson-a-groyper\/","title":{"rendered":"AI:  IS TYLER ROBINSON A GROYPER?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Google AI<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Is Tyler Robinson a Groyper?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While online speculation linked Charlie Kirk\u2019s alleged killer, Tyler Robinson, to the Groyper movement, his political affiliation was officially listed as \u201cunaffiliated\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>. Authorities found anti-fascist messages on the bullet casings and have so far refrained from labeling Robinson a Groyper.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Details surrounding Tyler Robinson and the Groyper speculation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Online rumors<\/strong>: After conservative activist Charlie Kirk was fatally shot in September 2025, unverified social media claims and&nbsp;Reddit threads&nbsp;linked the suspect, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, to the Groyper movement. These rumors were based on alleged comments and online behavior attributed to Robinson, including a Facebook photo that may reference a Groyper meme.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Reported admiration for Fuentes<\/strong>: According to a journalist citing Utah officials and police interviews, Robinson reportedly admired Nick Fuentes, the leader of the Groyper movement. Fuentes is a far-right, white nationalist who previously led \u201cGroyper Wars\u201d against Kirk and his organization, Turning Point USA.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Conflicting messages<\/strong>: The motives for the shooting remain unclear due to conflicting information regarding Robinson\u2019s political leanings. Authorities reported that anti-fascist messages were found on the bullet casings, and a relative stated Robinson \u201cthought both political sides were contributing to a country being in a worse place\u201d.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Note<\/strong>: The Groyper movement is an alt-right, white nationalist, and Christian nationalist activist group led by Nick Fuentes. They are known for disrupting mainstream conservative events and promoting white nationalist ideas.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>AI responses may include mistakes.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/support.google.com\/websearch?p=aimode\">Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"firstHeading\">Groypers<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p>From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/bathtubbulletin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image-43.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-67735\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>For the cartoon after which the group is named, see&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pepe_the_Frog#Groyper\">Pepe the Frog \u00a7&nbsp;Groyper<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The&nbsp;<strong>Groypers<\/strong>, sometimes called the&nbsp;<strong>Groyper Army<\/strong>, are a group of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Alt-right\">alt-right<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/White_nationalist\">white nationalist<\/a>, and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Christian_nationalism\">Christian nationalist<\/a><sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-5\">[5]<\/a><\/sup>&nbsp;activists led by&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Nick_Fuentes\">Nick Fuentes<\/a>. Members of the group have attempted to introduce alt-right politics into mainstream&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Conservatism_in_the_United_States\">conservatism in the United States<\/a>&nbsp;and participated in the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/January_6_United_States_Capitol_attack\">January 6 United States Capitol attack<\/a>&nbsp;and the protests leading up to it. They have targeted other conservative groups and individuals whose agendas they view as too moderate and insufficiently&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/American_nationalism\">nationalist<\/a>.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-Kidder-2020-6\">[6]<\/a><\/sup><sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-Kampeas-2020-7\">[7]<\/a><\/sup>&nbsp;The Groyper movement has been described as white nationalist,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Homophobic\">homophobic<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Nativism_(politics)\">nativist<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fascist\">fascist<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sexist\">sexist<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Antisemitic\">antisemitic<\/a>, and an attempt to rebrand the declining&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Alt-right\">alt-right<\/a>&nbsp;movement.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-IREHR-2020-page3-4\">[4]<\/a><\/sup><sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-Coaston-2019-8\">[8]<\/a><\/sup><sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-Thomas-2020-9\">[9]<\/a><\/sup><sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-Garcia-2020-10\">[10]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Groypers are a loosely defined group of Fuentes\u2019s followers and fans.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-Collins-2019-11\">[11]<\/a><\/sup><sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-IREHR-2020-page3-4\">[4]<\/a><\/sup>&nbsp;After him, there is no clear second in the Groyper hierarchy. Groypers are named after a cartoon&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Amphibian\">amphibian<\/a>&nbsp;named \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pepe_the_Frog#Groyper\">Groyper<\/a>\u201c, a variant of the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Internet_meme\">Internet meme<\/a>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pepe_the_Frog\">Pepe the Frog<\/a>. In February 2021, the Groyper movement splintered between Fuentes and Patrick Casey over fears of infiltration by federal&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Informant\">informants<\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Doxing\">doxing<\/a>&nbsp;at the 2021&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/America_First_Political_Action_Conference\">America First Political Action Conference<\/a>, held by Fuentes.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jaden_McNeil\">Jaden McNeil<\/a>&nbsp;of America First Students joined in support of Fuentes\u2019s conference and accused Casey of disloyalty to Fuentes.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-12\">[12]<\/a><\/sup><sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-13\">[13]<\/a><\/sup>&nbsp;In May 2022, McNeil distanced himself from Fuentes in an \u201cinterpersonal clash of egos\u201d following conflict over his former position as&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Treasurer\">treasurer<\/a>&nbsp;of Fuentes\u2019s America First Foundation.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-14\">[14]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Ideology\">Ideology<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Although Groypers present themselves as defenders of \u201cChristian conservatism\u201d, \u201ctraditional values\u201d, and \u201cAmerican nationalism\u201d, their ideology departs sharply from traditional conservative principles. Rather than conserving inherited institutions or practicing prudence and incremental reform, they advance a racialized politics that appeals to xenophobia and resentment.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-:12-15\">[15]<\/a><\/sup>&nbsp;They reject more mainstream conservative organizations as insufficiently nationalist and pro-white, and employ tactics of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Entryism\">entryism<\/a>&nbsp;and radicalization such as gradually introducing their targets to increasingly extreme ideas.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-FOOTNOTETannerBurghart202020-16\">[16]<\/a><\/sup>&nbsp;Groypers are widely recognized as a white nationalist, antisemitic, and homophobic movement.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-FOOTNOTETannerBurghart202015-17\">[17]<\/a><\/sup><sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-ADL-3\">[3]<\/a><\/sup><sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-18\">[18]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fuentes has said he has been \u201coppressed\u201d by \u201cthe Jews\u201d and blamed the Jewish community for antisemitism, claiming that matters \u201ctend to go from zero to sixty\u201d and that \u201cthe reason is them\u201d. He has said that matters would get \u201ca lot uglier\u201d for their community if they do not begin to support \u201cpeople like us\u201d.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-19\">[19]<\/a><\/sup><sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-20\">[20]<\/a><\/sup>&nbsp;According to the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Anti-Defamation_League\">Anti-Defamation League<\/a>, Groypers blame the mainstream conservative movement as well as the political left for what they view as \u201cdestroying white America\u201d. They oppose immigration and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Globalism\">globalism<\/a>. Groypers support \u201ctraditional\u201d values and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Christianity\">Christianity<\/a>&nbsp;and oppose&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Feminism\">feminism<\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBT_rights_in_the_United_States\">LGBTQ rights<\/a>.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-ADL-3\">[3]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Of the relationship between Groypers and the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Republican_Party_(United_States)\">Republican Party<\/a>, Fuentes has said, \u201cWe are the right-wing flank of the Republican Party\u201d. He has summarized his political ambitions by saying, \u201cWe have got to be on the right, dragging [moderate Republicans] kicking and screaming into the future. Into a truly&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Reactionary\">reactionary<\/a>&nbsp;party\u201d.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-21\">[21]<\/a><\/sup>&nbsp;In 2022, Fuentes advocated for a \u201cwhite uprising\u201d to bring&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Donald_Trump\">Donald Trump<\/a>&nbsp;back to power and \u201cnever leave\u201d and for the U.S. to \u201cstop having elections\u201d and abolish&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/United_States_Congress\">Congress<\/a>.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-22\">[22]<\/a><\/sup><sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-23\">[23]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Background\">Background<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Groypers are named after a cartoon&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Amphibian\">amphibian<\/a>&nbsp;named \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pepe_the_Frog#Groyper\">Groyper<\/a>\u201c, a variant of the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Internet_meme\">Internet meme<\/a>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pepe_the_Frog\">Pepe the Frog<\/a>. Groyper is depicted as a rotund, green, frog-like creature, often sitting with its chin resting on interlocked fingers.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-:1-24\">[24]<\/a><\/sup><sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-:0-25\">[25]<\/a><\/sup>&nbsp;There is some disagreement about the details: Groyper is variously said to be a depiction of Pepe,<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-Coaston-2019-8\">[8]<\/a><\/sup>&nbsp;a different character from Pepe but of the same species, or a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Toad\">toad<\/a>.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-:1-24\">[24]<\/a><\/sup>&nbsp;The Groyper meme was used as early as 2015 and became popular in 2017.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-:12-15\">[15]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2018, a group of computer scientists studying hateful speech on&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Twitter\">Twitter<\/a>&nbsp;observed the Groyper image being used frequently in account&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Avatar_(computing)\">avatars<\/a>&nbsp;among accounts identified as \u201chateful\u201d in their dataset. The researchers observed that the profiles tended to be anonymous and collectively tweeted primarily about politics, race, and religion. They also found that the users were not \u201clone wolves\u201d and could be identified as a community with a high network centrality.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-26\">[26]<\/a><\/sup>&nbsp;The same year,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/People_for_the_American_Way\"><em>Right Wing Watch<\/em><\/a>&nbsp;reported that Massachusetts congressional hopeful&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Shiva_Ayyadurai\">Shiva Ayyadurai<\/a>&nbsp;had created a campaign pin featuring a variation of the Groyper image, which&nbsp;<em>RWW<\/em>&nbsp;described as an attempt to appeal to far-right activists on&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/4chan\">4chan<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gab_(social_network)\">Gab<\/a>, and Twitter who had adopted the meme.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-27\">[27]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Nick_Fuentes_screencap_from_July_2022_virtual_debate.png\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/9\/95\/Nick_Fuentes_screencap_from_July_2022_virtual_debate.png\/250px-Nick_Fuentes_screencap_from_July_2022_virtual_debate.png\" alt=\"\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Nick Fuentes in 2022<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Fuentes\u2019s followers began to be known as Groypers beginning in 2019. They are also sometimes called \u201cNickers\u201d.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-IREHR-2020-page3-4\">[4]<\/a><\/sup><sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-Maly-2019-28\">[28]<\/a><\/sup>&nbsp;In September 2019,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ashley_St._Clair\">Ashley St. Clair<\/a>, a \u201cbrand ambassador\u201d for the conservative student group&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Turning_Point_USA\">Turning Point USA<\/a>, was photographed at an event featuring several allegedly&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/White_nationalist\">white nationalist<\/a>&nbsp;and alt-right figures, including Fuentes,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jacob_Wohl\">Jacob Wohl<\/a>, and Anthime Gionet, better known as \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Baked_Alaska_(influencer)\">Baked Alaska<\/a>\u201c. After&nbsp;<em>Right Wing Watch<\/em>&nbsp;brought the photographs to its attention, Turning Point USA issued a statement that said it had severed ties with St. Clair and condemned white nationalism as \u201cabhorrent and un-American\u201d.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-29\">[29]<\/a><\/sup><sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-30\">[30]<\/a><\/sup>&nbsp;At the 2019&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Politicon\">Politicon<\/a>&nbsp;convention, Fuentes tried to attend several Turning Point events featuring its founder&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Charlie_Kirk\">Charlie Kirk<\/a>, including a line to take photos with Kirk and Kirk\u2019s debate with&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kyle_Kulinski\">Kyle Kulinski<\/a>&nbsp;of&nbsp;<em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Young_Turks\">The Young Turks<\/a><\/em>. Security repeatedly barred him from being allowed near Kirk, and Fuentes accused Kirk of suppressing him to avoid a confrontation, as Fuentes had grown critical of Kirk\u2019s positions, which he believes are too weak.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-:0-25\">[25]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Groyper_War\">Groyper War<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In the fall of 2019,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Charlie_Kirk\">Charlie Kirk<\/a>&nbsp;launched a college speaking tour with Turning Point USA titled \u201cCulture War\u201d, featuring himself and guests such as&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Rand_Paul\">Rand Paul<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Donald_Trump_Jr.\">Donald Trump Jr.<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kimberly_Guilfoyle\">Kimberly Guilfoyle<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lara_Trump\">Lara Trump<\/a>, and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Dan_Crenshaw\">Dan Crenshaw<\/a>.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-ADL-3\">[3]<\/a><\/sup>&nbsp;In retaliation for the firing of St. Clair and the Politicon incident, Fuentes began organizing a social media campaign asking his followers to go to Kirk\u2019s events and ask provocative and controversial&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Leading_question\">leading questions<\/a>&nbsp;about his stances on immigration,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Israel\">Israel<\/a>, and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBT\">LGBT<\/a>&nbsp;rights to expose Kirk as a \u201cfake conservative\u201d. At a Culture War event hosted by&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ohio_State_University\">Ohio State University<\/a>&nbsp;on October 29, 11 out of 14 questions were asked by Groypers.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-Maly-2019-28\">[28]<\/a><\/sup>&nbsp;Their questions included \u201cCan you prove that our white European ideals will be maintained if the country is no longer made up of white European descendants?\u201d<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-Neiwert-2019-31\">[31]<\/a><\/sup>&nbsp;They asked Kirk\u2019s co-host Rob Smith, a gay, black&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Iraq_War\">Iraq War<\/a>&nbsp;veteran, \u201cHow does&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Anal_sex\">anal sex<\/a>&nbsp;help us win the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Culture_war\">culture war<\/a>?\u201d<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-Neiwert-2019-31\">[31]<\/a><\/sup><sup>[<em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:NOTRS\">better&nbsp;source&nbsp;needed<\/a><\/em>]<\/sup>&nbsp;Fuentes\u2019s social media campaign against Kirk became known as the \u201cGroyper Wars\u201d.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-Coaston-2019-8\">[8]<\/a><\/sup><sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-:1-24\">[24]<\/a><\/sup>&nbsp;Kirk, Smith, and others at Turning Point USA, including&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Benny_Johnson_(journalist)\">Benny Johnson<\/a>, began calling the questioners white supremacists and antisemites.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-:0-25\">[25]<\/a><\/sup><sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-32\">[32]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another Turning Point USA event the Groypers targeted was a promotional event for Donald Trump Jr.\u2019s book&nbsp;<em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Triggered_(book)\">Triggered<\/a><\/em>, featuring Trump, Kirk, and Guilfoyle at the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/University_of_California,_Los_Angeles\">University of California, Los Angeles<\/a>&nbsp;in November 2019. Anticipating further questions from Fuentes\u2019s followers, it was announced that the event\u2019s Q&amp;A portion would be canceled, which led to heckling and boos from the mostly pro-Trump audience.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-33\">[33]<\/a><\/sup>&nbsp;The disruptions forced the event, originally scheduled to last two hours, to end after 30 minutes.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-34\">[34]<\/a><\/sup><sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-35\">[35]<\/a><\/sup><sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-Collins-2019-11\">[11]<\/a><\/sup><sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-FOOTNOTETannerBurghart20205-36\">[36]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Groypers\u2019 targets for heckling quickly expanded beyond Kirk and Turning Point USA<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-:1-24\">[24]<\/a><\/sup><sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-FOOTNOTETannerBurghart20208-37\">[37]<\/a><\/sup>&nbsp;to other mainstream conservative groups and individuals, which they sometimes collectively call \u201cConservative Inc.\u201d, including&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Young_America%27s_Foundation\">Young America\u2019s Foundation<\/a>&nbsp;and its student outreach branch&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Young_Americans_for_Freedom\">Young Americans for Freedom<\/a>, which included such speakers as&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ben_Shapiro\">Ben Shapiro<\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Matt_Walsh_(political_commentator)\">Matt Walsh<\/a>&nbsp;of&nbsp;<em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Daily_Wire\">The Daily Wire<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jonah_Goldberg\">Jonah Goldberg<\/a>&nbsp;of&nbsp;<em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Dispatch\">The Dispatch<\/a><\/em>.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-Kidder-2020-6\">[6]<\/a><\/sup><sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-FOOTNOTETannerBurghart20208-37\">[37]<\/a><\/sup>&nbsp;Groypers\u2019 questions often focus on&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Israel%E2%80%93United_States_relations\">United States\u2013Israel relations<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Border_control\">immigration policy<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Affirmative_action\">affirmative action<\/a>, and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBT_conservatism_in_the_United_States\">LGBTQ conservatives<\/a>.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-Kampeas-2020-7\">[7]<\/a><\/sup><sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-FOOTNOTETannerBurghart20206-38\">[38]<\/a><\/sup><sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-Coaston-2019-8\">[8]<\/a><\/sup>&nbsp;They regularly use antisemitic&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Dog-whistle_politics\">dog-whistles<\/a>, including questions about the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/USS_Liberty_incident\">USS&nbsp;<em>Liberty<\/em>&nbsp;incident<\/a>&nbsp;and references to the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/September_11_attacks_advance-knowledge_conspiracy_theories#Israel\">\u201cdancing Israelis\u201d conspiracy theory<\/a>&nbsp;alleging Israeli involvement in the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/September_11_attacks\">September 11 attacks<\/a>.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-Collins-2019-11\">[11]<\/a><\/sup><sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-ADL-3\">[3]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Groyper_War_2\">Groyper War 2<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In August 2024, Fuentes began a \u201cdigital war\u201d against&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Donald_Trump_2024_presidential_campaign\">Trump\u2019s presidential campaign<\/a>, which he dubbed \u201cGroyper War 2\u201d, referencing his followers\u2019 activities in 2019.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-:3-39\">[39]<\/a><\/sup>&nbsp;In response to Trump\u2019s poor&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Polling_for_United_States_presidential_elections\">polling<\/a>, Fuentes began calling on his followers to&nbsp;\u201cbring the energy with memes, edits, replies, and trolls\u201d aimed at pressuring Trump\u2019s campaign to adopt further-right positions on race and immigration, as well as urging Trump to fire his campaign advisors&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Chris_LaCivita\">Chris LaCivita<\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Susie_Wiles\">Susie Wiles<\/a>.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-40\">[40]<\/a><\/sup>&nbsp;In addition to directing his followers to make their demands&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Trending_on_social_media\">trend<\/a>&nbsp;on&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Twitter\">X (formerly Twitter)<\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Truth_Social\">Truth Social<\/a>, Fuentes threatened to \u201cescalate pressure in the real world\u201d, urging followers to withhold their votes and protest Trump rallies in battleground states.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-:3-39\">[39]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Shortly after initiating this effort, Fuentes took credit for Trump\u2019s rehiring of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Corey_Lewandowski\">Corey Lewandowski<\/a>&nbsp;as a senior campaign advisor. An anonymous source cited by&nbsp;<em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Washington_Post\">The Washington Post<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;claimed that Fuentes was making it \u201cfar more difficult for Trump\u201d to make changes to his campaign \u201cif it looks like he\u2019s responding to the groypers\u201d.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-:3-39\">[39]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A senior researcher for the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Institute_for_Strategic_Dialogue\">Institute for Strategic Dialogue<\/a>&nbsp;speculated that Fuentes\u2019s \u201ccrude\u201d attempts at&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Platform_manipulation\">platform manipulation<\/a>&nbsp;could be a blueprint for more sophisticated actors, such as&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Foreign_adversaries\">hostile states<\/a>, to engage in&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Foreign_electoral_intervention\">foreign election interference<\/a>&nbsp;due to the lack of enforcement actions taken by Twitter and Truth Social in response to Fuentes\u2019s brief influence campaign.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-41\">[41]<\/a><\/sup><sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-42\">[42]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Other_activities\">Other activities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In December 2019, Fuentes held the Groyper Leadership Summit in&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Florida\">Florida<\/a>. A small group attended in person, and others joined via livestream. The event was held at the same time and in the same city as Turning Point USA\u2019s Student Action Summit (SAS); Groypers argued with SAS attendees outside their venue, and Fuentes, Patrick Casey, and some Groypers were removed from the SAS venue after attempting to enter. At the Groyper Leadership Summit, Fuentes, Casey, and former&nbsp;<em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/InfoWars\">InfoWars<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;contributor Jake Lloyd spoke about the Groypers\u2019 strategy and ideology.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-FOOTNOTETannerBurghart20209%E2%80%9310-43\">[43]<\/a><\/sup>&nbsp;Outside a venue where a Turning Point USA event was being held, Fuentes crossed paths with Ben Shapiro, who was on his way to the event with his wife and children. Fuentes confronted Shapiro over his past public speaking comments. Shapiro refused to acknowledge him.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-44\">[44]<\/a><\/sup>&nbsp;Fuentes faced widespread condemnation from politicians and various pundits\u2014including&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Nikki_Haley\">Nikki Haley<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meghan_McCain\">Meghan McCain<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sebastian_Gorka\">Sebastian Gorka<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Megyn_Kelly\">Megyn Kelly<\/a>, and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Michael_Avenatti\">Michael Avenatti<\/a>\u2014for confronting Shapiro while he was with his family.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-45\">[45]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In January 2020, Groyper and former leader of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kansas_State_University\">Kansas State University<\/a>\u2018s Turning Point USA chapter Jaden McNeil formed the Kansas State University organization America First Students. The group, which shares a name with Fuentes\u2019&nbsp;<em>America First<\/em>&nbsp;podcast, was conceived at the Groyper Leadership Summit, and Groyper leaders have helped promote it. The America First Students organization, which says it formed \u201cin defense of Christian values, strong families, closed borders, and the American worker\u201d, is considered to promote the Groyper movement.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-Thomas-2020-9\">[9]<\/a><\/sup><sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-Garcia-2020-10\">[10]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In February 2020, Fuentes spoke at several events held as rival events to the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Conservative_Political_Action_Conference\">Conservative Political Action Conference<\/a>. One of these, hosted by the online publication&nbsp;<em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/National_File\">National File<\/a><\/em>, featured Fuentes,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Alex_Jones\">Alex Jones<\/a>&nbsp;of&nbsp;<em>InfoWars<\/em>, and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Proud_Boys\">Proud Boys<\/a>&nbsp;founder&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gavin_McInnes\">Gavin McInnes<\/a>.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-46\">[46]<\/a><\/sup><sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-47\">[47]<\/a><\/sup>&nbsp;Fuentes hosted the first annual&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/America_First_Political_Action_Conference\">America First Political Action Conference<\/a>, which included such speakers as Patrick Casey, former&nbsp;<em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Daily_Caller\">Daily Caller<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;author Scott Greer, and Malkin.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-48\">[48]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Groypers are very active online, particularly on Twitter, and have engaged in targeted harassment.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-Maly-2019-28\">[28]<\/a><\/sup>&nbsp;<em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Financial_Times\">Financial Times<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;reported that many Groypers use \u201cdeceptively anodyne\u201d Twitter biographies, describing themselves in terms that downplay their extremism, like \u201cChristian conservative\u201d.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-:2-49\">[49]<\/a><\/sup>&nbsp;In April 2020,&nbsp;<em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Daily_Dot\">The Daily Dot<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;reported that Fuentes and other Groypers had begun to move to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/TikTok\">TikTok<\/a>, where they streamed live and used the \u201cduet\u201d feature to respond to Trump supporters. Groypers particularly targeted one left-wing teenage girl for harassment, first on TikTok and then on other platforms.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-:2-49\">[49]<\/a><\/sup><sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-50\">[50]<\/a><\/sup>&nbsp;Fuentes and some other Groyper accounts were banned from TikTok shortly after the&nbsp;<em>Daily Dot<\/em>&nbsp;article was published.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-51\">[51]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"January_6_United_States_Capitol_attack\">January 6 United States Capitol attack<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Groypers were present at the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/January_6_United_States_Capitol_attack\">January 6 United States Capitol attack<\/a>&nbsp;and prominent among those who participated in the early waves of attack on the Capitol.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-w407-52\">[52]<\/a><\/sup>&nbsp;Exact numbers are not known, but several were arrested. In February 2021, the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Anti-Defamation_League\">Anti-Defamation League<\/a>&nbsp;reported that it had identified ten Groypers or related white supremacists involved in the riots.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-53\">[53]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fuentes and Casey were on the Capitol steps and celebrated the temporary disruption of Congress, but have not been charged.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-mlive-54\">[54]<\/a><\/sup><sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-u036-55\">[55]<\/a><\/sup>&nbsp;Both were subpoenaed by the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/United_States_House_Select_Committee_on_the_January_6_Attack\">United States House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack<\/a>&nbsp;in January 2022 for their role in planning the attack.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-u036-55\">[55]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Riley_Williams\">Riley June Williams<\/a>&nbsp;of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Harrisburg,_Pennsylvania\">Harrisburg, Pennsylvania<\/a>, was accused of invading&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Nancy_Pelosi\">Nancy Pelosi<\/a>\u2018s office and stealing her laptop and gavel and of generally accelerating the attack. She was tried and found guilty of six charges, including a felony count of civil disorder. On March 23, 2023, Williams was sentenced to three years in prison with three years of probation and fined.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-56\">[56]<\/a><\/sup><sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-s114-57\">[57]<\/a><\/sup><sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-w943-58\">[58]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Christian Secor of Costa Mesa, California, was at the Capitol, where he allegedly flew the Groypers flag. He was convicted of obstruction of an official proceeding, civil disorder, assault, and resisting arrest, and sentenced to 42 months in prison.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-59\">[59]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Joseph Brody of Springfield, Virginia, and four others acted as a group that assisted the mob \u201cin using a metal barricade against a U.S. Capitol Police officer, knocking the officers back as he attempted to secure the North Door\u201d. He was convicted of assaulting a police officer, resisting or impeding law enforcement officers, causing bodily injury, interfering with a law enforcement officer during a civil disorder, and obstruction of an official proceeding.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-60\">[60]<\/a><\/sup><sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-61\">[61]<\/a><\/sup><sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-f812-62\">[62]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>David Dempsey of Los Angeles, California, received a 20-year sentence for attacking several law enforcement officers on January 6. This was the second-longest sentence for any of those involved in the insurrection. Before sentencing, Dempsey apologized to the police officers in the courtroom, saying he had a \u201cprofound sense of regret\u201d, but as he was led out of the room after sentencing he made a hand sign associated with the Groyper movement.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-Dempsey-63\">[63]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thomas Carey of Pittsburgh, Ohio, Gabriel Chase of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gainesville,_Florida\">Gainesville, Florida<\/a>, Jon Lizak of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cold_Spring_Harbor,_New_York\">Cold Spring Harbor, New York<\/a>, and Paul Ewald Lovley of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Halethorpe,_Maryland\">Halethorpe, Maryland<\/a>, all pleaded guilty to demonstrating in a Capitol Building and were each fined $500.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-justice-64\">[64]<\/a><\/sup><sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-65\">[65]<\/a><\/sup><sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-66\">[66]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Groyper influencer&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Anthime_Gionet\">Anthime Gionet<\/a>, known as Baked Alaska, was arrested for his role in storming the Capitol building, which he live streamed. According to the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Institute_for_Strategic_Dialogue\">Institute for Strategic Dialogue<\/a>, \u201cDuring the riot, he wore&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pit_Viper_(sunglasses)\">Pit Viper sunglasses<\/a>, which have since been adopted as a symbol by the Groypers.\u201d<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-s287-67\">[67]<\/a><\/sup><sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-o462-68\">[68]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tristan Sartor of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ruffs_Dale,_Pennsylvania\">Ruffs Dale, Pennsylvania<\/a>, was charged with criminally entering a restricted building and attempting to \u201cimpede or disrupt the orderly conduct of Government business\u201d at the Capitol.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-y286-69\">[69]<\/a><\/sup><sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-z794-70\">[70]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Political_activism\">Political activism<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The Groyper movement has repeatedly failed to gain political traction, often being disavowed by the politicians it has attempted to support. Congressman&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Paul_Gosar\">Paul Gosar<\/a>, the keynote speaker at Fuentes\u2019s AFPAC II in 2021, disavowed Fuentes and his followers the next day while addressing&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Conservative_Political_Action_Conference\">CPAC<\/a>.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-71\">[71]<\/a><\/sup>&nbsp;At AFPAC III in 2022, several political figures whom Fuentes claimed were slated to speak, including&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Arizona\">Arizona<\/a>&nbsp;gubernatorial nominee&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kari_Lake\">Kari Lake<\/a>&nbsp;and former acting&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Director_of_the_U.S._Immigration_and_Customs_Enforcement\">Director of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement<\/a>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Thomas_Homan\">Thomas Homan<\/a>, did not attend and disavowed the event upon learning of Fuentes\u2019s views.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-72\">[72]<\/a><\/sup><sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-73\">[73]<\/a><\/sup>&nbsp;The conference\u2019s keynote speaker, Congresswoman&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Marjorie_Taylor_Greene\">Marjorie Taylor Greene<\/a>, later said she did not know who Fuentes was and, upon learning of his views, condemned him.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-74\">[74]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Of the AFPAC III speakers who did not rescind their support for Fuentes, only two ran for major office:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lieutenant_Governor_of_Idaho\">Lieutenant Governor of Idaho<\/a>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Janice_McGeachin\">Janice McGeachin<\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Arizona_State_Senate\">Arizona State Senator<\/a>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wendy_Rogers_(politician)\">Wendy Rogers<\/a>. Rogers won a competitive primary that year and was reelected, but she was&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Censure_in_the_United_States\">censured<\/a>&nbsp;for her remarks at the conference calling for&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Political_violence\">political violence<\/a>.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-75\">[75]<\/a><\/sup>&nbsp;McGeachin, who&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2022_Idaho_gubernatorial_election\">ran for governor of Idaho<\/a>&nbsp;that year, lost the primary to incumbent Governor&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Brad_Little\">Brad Little<\/a>&nbsp;by a 20-point margin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the candidates Fuentes endorsed in the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2022_United_States_elections\">2022 midterms<\/a>&nbsp;who later disavowed his endorsement was&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Joe_Kent\">Joe Kent<\/a>, who ran for the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2022_United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections_in_Washington#District_3\">3rd congressional district<\/a>&nbsp;in&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Washington_(state)\">Washington<\/a>.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-76\">[76]<\/a><\/sup>&nbsp;In response to Kent\u2019s disavowal, Fuentes began organizing an online campaign against him, but Kent won the Republican nomination and defeated incumbent Congresswoman&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jaime_Herrera_Beutler\">Jaime Herrera Beutler<\/a>.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-77\">[77]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fuentes and the Groyper movement later supported&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Laura_Loomer\">Laura Loomer<\/a>\u2018s candidacy for Florida\u2019s&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2022_United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections_in_Florida#District_11\">11th congressional district<\/a>&nbsp;in 2022.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-78\">[78]<\/a><\/sup>&nbsp;On the night of the primary, Fuentes attended Loomer\u2019s election watch party, and they were filmed sharing a toast as results came in that seemed to suggest Loomer would defeat incumbent Congressman&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Daniel_Webster_(Florida_politician)\">Daniel Webster<\/a>; Loomer toasted \u201cto the hostile takeover of the Republican Party\u201d.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-79\">[79]<\/a><\/sup>&nbsp;When additional results came in confirming Loomer\u2019s loss to Webster by 7 points, she claimed without evidence in a speech to her supporters that her loss was due to voter fraud.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-80\">[80]<\/a><\/sup><sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-81\">[81]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In late 2022 and early 2023, the Groyper movement shifted away from its longtime position of supporting Trump and instead began promoting&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kanye_West\">Kanye West<\/a>\u2018s&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kanye_West_2024_presidential_campaign\">presidential campaign<\/a>. West brought Fuentes to a dinner at&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mar-a-Lago\">Mar-a-Lago<\/a>&nbsp;with Trump, which generated significant controversy and raised Fuentes\u2019s profile; Trump later disavowed Fuentes, saying he was not initially aware of Fuentes\u2019s views.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-82\">[82]<\/a><\/sup><sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-83\">[83]<\/a><\/sup>&nbsp;West\u2019s campaign soon included other figures in the Groyper movement, including&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Milo_Yiannopoulos\">Milo Yiannopoulos<\/a>,<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-84\">[84]<\/a><\/sup>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ali_Alexander\">Ali Alexander<\/a>,<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-85\">[85]<\/a><\/sup>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Rumble_(website)\">Rumble<\/a>&nbsp;streamer&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sneako\">Nico Kenn De Balinthazy<\/a>, better known by his online alias \u201cSneako\u201d.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-86\">[86]<\/a><\/sup>&nbsp;Many Groypers, including fellow streamers on Fuentes\u2019s website Cozy.tv, began using their platforms to promote West\u2019s&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Antisemitism\">antisemitic<\/a>&nbsp;views.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-87\">[87]<\/a><\/sup>&nbsp;Two Cozy streamers, Dalton Clodfelter and Tyler Russell, began streaming themselves harassing students at college campuses with a table display reading \u201cYe is Right\u2014Change my Mind\u201d, a slogan that derived from a college tour by right-wing commentator&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Steven_Crowder\">Steven Crowder<\/a>.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-88\">[88]<\/a><\/sup><sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-89\">[89]<\/a><\/sup>&nbsp;Jewish student groups and allies frequently protested these events, playing music on loudspeakers and chanting in order to drown out the streamers\u2019 speeches.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-90\">[90]<\/a><\/sup>&nbsp;The planned college tour was canceled after less than a month after Clodfelter lost the funding for both the tour and the Rumble channel associated with it.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-91\">[91]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On May 4, 2023, it was reported that West had fired Fuentes and Alexander, the latter of whom had become embroiled in a sexual harassment scandal involving young men and underage boys, and rehired Yiannopoulos, who had since split from Fuentes and was the first person to leak the allegations against Alexander.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-92\">[92]<\/a><\/sup><sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-93\">[93]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Reactions\">Reactions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Groyper Wars earned widespread media attention after the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/UCLA\">UCLA<\/a>&nbsp;incident with Donald Trump Jr. Chadwick Moore of&nbsp;<em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Spectator\">Spectator USA<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;commented that the ordeal revealed deep divisions within the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Conservatism_in_the_United_States\">American right<\/a>&nbsp;among young voters, particularly&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Generation_Z\">Generation Z<\/a>. Moore claimed this divide is due to the Groypers viewing Charlie Kirk and others in the mainstream conservative movement as \u201csnatching the baton and appointing themselves the guardians of 2016\u2019s spoils\u201d, despite holding beliefs that Fuentes and his followers believe conflict with Trump\u2019s \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Make_America_Great_Again\">Make America Great Again<\/a>\u201d agenda.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-94\">[94]<\/a><\/sup>&nbsp;Another&nbsp;<em>Spectator<\/em>&nbsp;author, Ben Sixsmith, claimed that Turning Point\u2019s unwillingness to respond to controversial questions and use of insults to dismiss its critics revealed the organization\u2019s hypocrisy after having \u201cpromoted themselves as the debate guys\u201d.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-95\">[95]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Several mainstream conservative commentators also weighed in. Addressing the increase in attention to the far-right due to the aggressive questioning of Kirk, Ben Shapiro gave a speech at&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Stanford_University\">Stanford University<\/a>&nbsp;in which he attacked Fuentes (without naming him) and his followers as essentially a rebranded version of the alt-right.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-96\">[96]<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-97\">[97]<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-98\">[98]<\/a><\/sup>&nbsp;Similarly, Dan Crenshaw called the questioners \u201calt-right 2.0\u201d, while&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/American_Conservative_Union\">American Conservative Union<\/a>&nbsp;chairman&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Matt_Schlapp\">Matt Schlapp<\/a>&nbsp;said, \u201cthere is no place in our conservative movement for those interested in fomenting hate, mob violence, or racist propaganda.\u201d<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-99\">[99]<\/a><\/sup>&nbsp;Conversely, conservative commentator&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Michelle_Malkin\">Michelle Malkin<\/a>&nbsp;wrote an article for&nbsp;<em>American Greatness<\/em>&nbsp;attacking Kirk\u2019s immigration policies, particularly his stance that immigrants who graduate from U.S. universities should receive&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Green_card\">green cards<\/a>.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-100\">[100]<\/a><\/sup>&nbsp;After defending Fuentes and his followers, Malkin was fired as a speaker for Young America\u2019s Foundation, a rival organization to Turning Point whose events Groypers had also targeted.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-FOOTNOTETannerBurghart20208-37\">[37]<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-101\">[101]<\/a><\/sup>&nbsp;Malkin later called herself a mother figure to and leader of the Groypers.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-102\">[102]<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-103\">[103]<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers#cite_note-104\">[104]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>More at:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers\">https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groypers<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Google AI Is Tyler Robinson a Groyper? While online speculation linked Charlie Kirk\u2019s alleged killer, Tyler Robinson, to the Groyper movement, his political affiliation was officially listed as \u201cunaffiliated\u201d . Authorities found anti-fascist messages on the bullet casings and have so far refrained from labeling Robinson a Groyper.&nbsp; Details surrounding&#8230; <a class=\"continue-reading-link\" href=\"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/2025\/09\/12\/is-tyler-robinson-a-groyper\/\"> Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr; <\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43873"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43873"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43873\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":43875,"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43873\/revisions\/43875"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43873"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43873"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43873"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}