America First Policies
501(c)(4) | |
Budget | $20 m |
---|---|
Revenue (2019) | $30,895,344[1] |
Expenses (2019) | $14,235,607[1] |
Employees (2021) | 35 |
Website | www |
America First Policies is an organization created following the inauguration of Donald Trump in 2017 to promote the America First policy agenda of his administration.[2][3][4] It was founded by Trump campaign people including Nick Ayers, Rick Gates, and Brad Parscale.
History
America First Policies was founded by several people, including Nick Ayers, a Republican consultant who is regarded as Mike Pence's top political adviser;[5] Rick Gates; and Brad Parscale.[6]
In 2017, Brian O. Walsh was hired to oversee the group's day-to-day operations after the group experienced high staff turnover.[7][8]
In June 2017,
In May 2018, a CNN review of his Twitter account found that John Loudon, a former Missouri State Senator who briefly served as a policy advisor for America First Policies,[13] had used inflammatory and derogatory language against women, Muslims, and Democrats.[14]
In June 2018, Juan Pablo Andrade, a policy advisor for America First Policies and America First Action PAC, was fired from both groups after a video surfaced of him praising Nazis.[15]
After its founding, America First Policies sought but failed to receive seed funding from American heiress and Republican donor Rebekah Mercer.[16]
In May 2018,
America First Action Super PAC
Founded | April 12, 2017 | |
---|---|---|
Type | President | Brian O. Walsh |
Website | americafirstpolicy |
In the 2016 and 2018 elections, four Trump-related
The legally separate America First Action (as opposed to "Policies") Super PAC serves a similar function of promoting Trump's policies under the "America First" theme, but due to its legal status may expressly advocate for the election or defeat of particular candidates (rather than only advocating for policies), and must disclose its donors. Some staff members work for both organizations, such as the chair, president, and communications director, and the two organizations share space and equipment.[1]
In the 2018 midterm election cycle, the Super PAC spent $29 million.[22] As of the end of March 2020, it had reported spending $9 million during the 2020 election cycle.[23]
In 2019, $910,000 (~$1.07 million in 2023) of America First Action's spending went to a company owned by Parscale and his wife.[24][25]
References
- ^ a b c "Form 990: Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax". American First Policies Inc. Internal Revenue Service. December 31, 2019.
- ^ Zarroli, Jim (January 31, 2017). "Trump Political Advisers Now Raising Money For His 'America First' Agenda". NPR. Retrieved May 22, 2017.
- ^ Bykowicz, Julie (January 30, 2017). "Trump advisers start 'America First Policies' nonprofit". Associated Press News. Associated Press. Retrieved May 22, 2017.
- ^ "America First Policy Institute (AFPI)". InfluenceWatch. Retrieved 2023-06-20.
- ^ Thrush, Glenn; Martin, Jonathan (June 27, 2017). "On Senate Health Bill, Trump Falters in the Closer's Role". The New York Times. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
- ^ Nowlin, Sanford. "After Ushering the Trump Circus Into The White House, Brad Parscale Is Turning His Megaphone on San Antonio". Archived from the original on 2020-06-07. Retrieved 2019-10-31.
- ^ Isenstadt, Alex; Goldmacher, Shane (April 18, 2017). "Pro-Trump outside group taps veteran GOP strategist for day-to-day operations". POLITICO. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
- ^ Balcerzak, Ashley (18 February 2019). "Inside Donald Trump's army of super PACs and MAGA nonprofits". Public Radio International. The Center for Public Integrity. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
- ^ Ward, Vicky (March 17, 2017). "The Blow-It-All-Up Billionaires". HuffPost. Retrieved May 22, 2017.
- ^ Goldmacher, Shane (19 December 2016). "Trump advisers spar over new political arm". Politico. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
- ^ Goldmacher, Shane (13 March 2017). "Trump's political group plagued by power struggle". Politico. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
- ^ Nussbaum, Matthew; Isenstadt, Alex (June 23, 2017). "Pro-Trump group to target GOP Sen. Heller over health care bill". Politico. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
- ^ Gardner, Amy; Crites, Alice (July 22, 2019). "Secret donors and Trump allies: Inside the operation to push noncitizen voting laws in Florida and other states". Washington Post. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
- ^ McDermott, Nathan; Kaczynski, Andrew; Massie, Chris (May 21, 2018). "Policy adviser for Trump-linked group called Obama 'Islamchurian candidate,' joked about 'crack whore Dem voter'". CNN. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
- ^ Kaczynski, Andrew (14 June 2018). "Adviser under fire for pro-Nazi comments 'let go' from pro-Trump groups". CNN. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
- ^ "Is Katrina Pierson Actually Doing Anything? | Washingtonian (DC)". Washingtonian. 2017-03-07. Retrieved 2021-07-06.
- ^ "Southern Co., CVS, Dow Chemical Funding Trump Dark Money Group Tied to Racist, Anti-Semitic Views". maplight.org. Retrieved 2018-06-02.
- ^ a b Andrew Kaczynski; Chris Massie; Nathan McDermott. "CVS Health and Dow Chemical will no longer donate to pro-Trump advocacy group". CNN. Retrieved 2018-06-02.
- ^ Kaczynski, Andrew; Massie, Christopher (8 June 2018). "Carl Higbie, who left Trump administration over racist comments, resigns from Trump-aligned group". CNN. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
- ^ Cummings, William (May 1, 2018). "Ex-Trump official Carl Higbie defends racist remarks that led to his resignation". USA TODAY. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-09-08.
- ^ "Organizations Disclosing Donations to America First Action, 2018 | OpenSecrets". www.opensecrets.org. Retrieved 21 May 2020.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Organizations Disclosing Donations to America First Action, 2020 | OpenSecrets". www.opensecrets.org. Retrieved 21 May 2020.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Ward, Vicky (30 August 2019). "Pro-Trump super PAC paid thousands to firm owned by Trump's campaign manager | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
- ^ "Trump PAC paid $$$$ to firm owned by campaign manager's wife". The Mercury News. 2019-08-30. Retrieved 2021-01-12.