A small but vocal neo-Nazi faction known as the “Groyper” movement has increasingly claimed the banner of “America First.” But a review of the movement’s own rhetoric and public statements by its leader, Nick Fuentes, shows a worldview that sharply conflicts with the constitutional, pro-liberty foundations of the America First doctrine revived by President Donald Trump.
While Fuentes names his podcast America First, his ideology and the behavior of his followers diverge fundamentally from the principles historically associated with the movement: individual liberty, limited government, national sovereignty, and loyalty to the U.S. Constitution.
What America First Means
President Trump’s America First doctrine emphasized reducing unnecessary foreign entanglements, ending endless wars, prioritizing U.S. national interests, and asserting that government exists to serve its citizens—not global institutions. At its core, America First rests on America’s founding ideals: individual rights endowed by God, the consent of the governed, limited government power, and constitutional rule.
Those principles are rooted in the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, which frame liberty—not state authority—as the purpose of government.
Praise for America’s Enemies
Fuentes has repeatedly praised some of history’s most notorious authoritarian figures. He has described Adolf Hitler as “awesome” and “very, very cool,” and stated that Hitler “didn’t go hard enough against Poland.” Hitler’s aggressive wars across Europe resulted in tens of millions of deaths and exemplify the kind of foreign aggression and endless conflict that America First explicitly rejects.
Fuentes has also spoken favorably of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin, stating that “what [Stalin] did, it worked.” Stalin, a communist tyrant, oversaw the deaths of millions of his own citizens and stood in direct opposition to American capitalism, individual liberty, and constitutional governance.
Rejection of Individual Liberty
At the ideological core of Fuentes’s worldview is a rejection of individual rights. He has argued that the authority and force of the state should outweigh freedom and liberty, and that government should revoke personal freedoms when deemed necessary.
In one statement, Fuentes said plainly: “I don’t believe in the individual.”
That position directly contradicts the American founding principle that rights come from God, not the state, and that government exists solely to secure those rights. As the Declaration of Independence states, individuals are endowed by their Creator with unalienable rights, including life and liberty.
Fuentes has also acknowledged being “anti-American,” telling streamer Destiny (Steven Bonnell) that he seeks to replace the U.S. Constitution with a theocratic regime.
Calls for Dictatorship
In 2022, Fuentes openly called for authoritarian rule, stating: “We need a dictatorship. We need to take control of the government and force the people to believe what we believe.”
This position stands in direct opposition to America’s constitutional system, which is built on checks and balances, limited government, and the consent of the governed.
Celebrating the Far Left
Despite branding themselves as part of the right, Groypers have publicly celebrated far-left electoral victories. Following major Democrat wins in November 2025, the Groyper-affiliated account Fuentes Updates claimed that Groypers were “jubilant” and “winning.”
Prominent Groyper activist Greg the Groyper celebrated victories by far-left figures, including Islamic socialist Zohran Mamdani, declaring “America First is finally winning the war against Israel First” and proclaiming a “Total Groyper Victory.”
These celebrations placed Groypers in alignment with candidates and movements traditionally opposed by MAGA voters and strongly rejected by pro-Israel conservatives.
A Clear Divide
Critics within the America First movement have increasingly drawn attention to the contradiction. Commentator Charlie Kirk summed up the tension, noting the inconsistency of opposing endless wars while defending figures like Hitler, who launched a global conflict and destroyed his own nation through aggressive expansion.
The contrast is stark. America First emphasizes liberty, constitutional government, and national loyalty. The Groyper movement embraces authoritarianism, rejects individual rights, praises America’s historical enemies, celebrates far-left victories, and openly declares itself anti-American.
The Bottom Line
Despite sharing a slogan, Groypers and America First are not aligned. One is rooted in the American founding and constitutional liberty. The other promotes extremism, dictatorship, and the rejection of the very principles that define the United States.
As debates within the right continue, the distinction between America First and the Groyper movement has become increasingly difficult to ignore.
