History of Groypers in Timeline

The Groypers, also known as the Groyper Army, are a loosely organized group associated with far-right activist Nick Fuentes. Identified as Christian nationalists and white nationalists, their name derives from a variant of the Pepe the Frog internet meme. Groypers are known for their online presence and activism, often promoting their views through social media and public demonstrations. They advocate for a specific brand of nationalism, often clashing with mainstream conservative ideologies and figures they deem insufficiently right-wing.

2015: Early Use of the Groyper Meme

The Groyper meme, a variant of Pepe the Frog, began to be used as early as 2015, depicting a rotund, green, frog-like creature with its chin resting on interlocked fingers.

2016: Divisions within the American Right

In 2016, the divisions within the American right became more visible, especially among young voters of Generation Z. Groypers viewed figures like Charlie Kirk as seizing control of the conservative movement without aligning with Donald Trump's "Make America Great Again" agenda.

2017: Groyper Meme Gains Popularity

In 2017, the Groyper meme gained popularity, becoming a recognizable symbol associated with online communities and eventually the Groyper movement.

2018: Groyper Image in Hateful Speech on Twitter

In 2018, computer scientists observed the Groyper image frequently used in account avatars identified as "hateful" on Twitter. These accounts, often anonymous, collectively tweeted about politics, race, and religion and were identified as a highly connected community. Also in 2018, Shiva Ayyadurai's campaign pin featured the Groyper image.

September 2019: Ashley St. Clair's Association with White Nationalists

In September 2019, Ashley St. Clair, a Turning Point USA "brand ambassador", was photographed with figures allegedly associated with white nationalism. TPUSA subsequently severed ties with St. Clair and condemned white nationalism.

November 2019: Groypers Target Trump Jr. Book Promotion Event

In November 2019, Groypers targeted a promotional event for Donald Trump Jr.'s book "Triggered" at UCLA. The event's Q&A was canceled in anticipation of Groyper questions, resulting in heckling and the event ending early.

Triggered: How the Left Thrives on Hate and Wants to Silence Us

Check it on Amazon

November 2019: Groyper War Disrupts UCLA Event

In November 2019, the Groyper War gained traction after a UCLA event featuring Donald Trump Jr. was cut short due to heckling by Groypers. This event exposed divisions among conservatives and highlighted the growing influence of the Groyper movement.

December 2019: Groypers Confront Ben Shapiro

In December 2019, Nick Fuentes confronted Ben Shapiro, who was with his family, over his past public speaking comments. Shapiro did not respond, and Fuentes faced widespread condemnation from politicians and pundits for the confrontation.

December 2019: Fuentes expands the movement with the Groyper Leadership Summit

In December 2019, Nick Fuentes expanded the Groyper movement by holding the Groyper Leadership Summit. This event marked a significant step in organizing and solidifying the Groyper's presence in conservative politics.

December 2019: Groyper Leadership Summit

In December 2019, Nick Fuentes held the Groyper Leadership Summit in Florida, coinciding with TPUSA's Student Action Summit. Groypers interacted with SAS attendees, and Fuentes, Patrick Casey, and some Groypers were removed from the SAS venue. The Groyper Leadership Summit featured discussions about the Groypers' strategy and ideology.

2019: Fuentes Confronts Charlie Kirk at Politicon

In 2019, Nick Fuentes attempted to attend Turning Point USA events featuring Charlie Kirk at Politicon. Security prevented him from approaching Kirk, leading Fuentes to accuse Kirk of suppressing him to avoid confrontation over his perceived weak positions.

2019: Emergence of Groypers

In 2019, followers of Nick Fuentes began to be known as Groypers, sometimes referred to as "Nickers," marking the formalization of the movement's identity.

2019: Fuentes Organizes Social Media Campaign Against TPUSA

In 2019, in response to Ashley St. Clair's firing and the Politicon incident, Nick Fuentes organized a social media campaign urging his followers to question Charlie Kirk's stances on immigration, Israel, and LGBT rights, aiming to expose him as a "fake conservative".

2019: Referencing Activities

In August 2024, Fuentes began Groyper War 2, a "digital war" against Trump's presidential campaign, which he dubbed "Groyper War 2", referencing his followers' activities in 2019.

January 2020: Formation of America First Students Organization

In January 2020, Jaden McNeil formed America First Students at Kansas State University, with the organization sharing a name with Nick Fuentes's podcast. Conceived at the Groyper Leadership Summit, it promotes the Groyper movement.

January 2020: Formation of America First Students

In January 2020, Nick Fuentes formed America First Students, further institutionalizing the Groyper movement and expanding its reach to college campuses. This organization aimed to promote the group's ideology and influence among young conservatives.

February 2020: Fuentes Speaks at CPAC Rival Events

In February 2020, Nick Fuentes spoke at several events held as rival events to the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). One event, hosted by National File, featured Fuentes, Alex Jones, and Gavin McInnes. Fuentes also hosted the first annual America First Political Action Conference.

April 2020: Groypers Move to TikTok

In April 2020, Groypers, including Nick Fuentes, moved to TikTok, streaming live and using the "duet" feature to respond to Trump supporters. They particularly targeted a left-wing teenage girl for harassment, leading to bans for Fuentes and other Groyper accounts shortly after.

February 2021: ADL Identifies Groypers Involved in Capitol Riots

In February 2021, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reported that they had identified ten Groypers or related white supremacists who were involved in the January 6 United States Capitol attack. Nick Fuentes and Patrick Casey were present on the Capitol steps but have not been charged.

February 2021: Groyper Movement Splintering

In February 2021, the Groyper movement experienced a split between Nick Fuentes and Patrick Casey due to concerns about federal informants and doxing at the America First Political Action Conference. Jaden McNeil supported Fuentes, accusing Casey of disloyalty.

2021: Gosar Disavows Fuentes and Groypers

In 2021, Congressman Paul Gosar, a keynote speaker at Fuentes's AFPAC II, disavowed Fuentes and his followers while addressing CPAC the following day.

January 2022: Fuentes Subpoenaed for Role in January 6 Attack

In January 2022, Nick Fuentes was subpoenaed by the United States House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack for his role in planning the attack on the Capitol.

2022: Fuentes Supported Laura Loomer's Candidacy

In 2022, Fuentes and the Groyper movement supported Laura Loomer's candidacy for Florida's 11th congressional district. On the night of the primary, Fuentes attended Loomer's election watch party where they toasted to "the hostile takeover of the Republican Party". Loomer lost to Daniel Webster and claimed voter fraud without evidence.

2022: Fuentes Advocates for "White Uprising"

In 2022, Nick Fuentes advocated a "white uprising" to reinstate Donald Trump and abolish elections and Congress. Later, Fuentes criticized Trump's support of Israel and other policies, calling "Trump 2.0" a disappointment.

2022: Fuentes Endorsed Joe Kent in 2022 Midterms

In 2022, Nick Fuentes endorsed Joe Kent in the midterm elections. Kent, running in Washington's 3rd congressional district, later disavowed Fuentes's endorsement, leading Fuentes to organize an online campaign against him. Kent won the Republican nomination but narrowly lost to Marie Gluesenkamp Perez in the general election.

2022: Political Figures Disavow AFPAC III and Fuentes

In 2022, several political figures, including Kari Lake and Thomas Homan, disavowed AFPAC III upon learning of Nick Fuentes's views. Marjorie Taylor Greene, the conference's keynote speaker, also condemned Fuentes after learning of his views.

2022: Groyper Movement Shifted Support to Kanye West

In late 2022, the Groyper movement shifted from supporting Trump to promoting Kanye West's presidential campaign. West brought Fuentes to a dinner with Trump at Mar-a-Lago, causing controversy. Trump later disavowed Fuentes.

May 4, 2023: West Fired Fuentes and Alexander, Rehired Yiannopoulos

On May 4, 2023, it was reported that Kanye West fired Nick Fuentes and Ali Alexander due to a sexual harassment scandal involving Alexander. West also rehired Milo Yiannopoulos, who had split from Fuentes and leaked the allegations against Alexander.

2023: Groypers Promoted West's Antisemitic Views

In early 2023, West's campaign included figures like Milo Yiannopoulos, Ali Alexander, and Sneako. Many Groypers, including Cozy.tv streamers, used their platforms to promote West's antisemitic views. Dalton Clodfelter and Tyler Russell harassed students at college campuses with a "Ye is Right" display.

August 2024: Fuentes Begins "Groyper War 2"

In August 2024, Nick Fuentes initiated "Groyper War 2", a digital campaign targeting Donald Trump's presidential campaign to push it towards further-right positions on race and immigration, urging Trump to fire his campaign advisors, using memes, edits, replies, and trolls. He also threatened real-world actions like withholding votes and protesting rallies. This campaign was named "Groyper War 2", referencing his followers' activities in 2019.

2025: Fuentes Condemns Charlie Kirk Assassination

Following the assassination of Charlie Kirk in 2025, conspiracy theories linked Groypers to the event. Nick Fuentes condemned the shooting and urged his supporters to remain peaceful, describing the situation as a "nightmare".