America First Political Action Conference (AFPAC)

The America First Political Action Conference (AFPAC) is an annual conference organized by the America First Foundation (AFF), an advocacy group founded by Nick Fuentes, a white-nationalist activist and podcast host notable for statements hostile to Jews, women, and ethnic minorities. 1 The AFF promotes nationalism, Christianity, and traditionalism. 2

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At-A-Glance

Type: Non-profit, 527 (Political Action Committee)
Ideological Alignment: Right of Center
Issue Areas: Identity Politics (for race-based policy/activism), Economic Policy, Foreign Policy
First Conference:

2020

Contents

    The first America First Political Action Conference was held in 2020 with conferences held again in 2021 and 2022. 3

    Activities

    The America First Political Action Conference is an annual conference organized by the America First Foundation, an advocacy group created by white-nationalist podcaster Nick Fuentes. AFPAC, considered to be an extremist alternative to the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), was first held on February 28, 2020, the Friday evening of CPAC’s 2020 conference. Speakers at the inaugural conference included Fuentes, right-wing commentator Michelle Malkin, controversial right-wing writer Scott Greer, and Patrick Casey. 4 Malkin is a political commentator who was at the time a nationally syndicated columnist for Creators Syndicate; Greer was a contributor to the Daily Caller and a former contributor to 2010s white supremacist leader Richard Spencer’s Radix Journal; Casey is the former executive director of Identity Evropa, a white-nationalist group. 3

    The second AFPAC conference was held on February 25, 2021, again concurrently with CPAC. The keynote speaker was U.S. Representative Paul Gosar (R-AZ) and other speakers included former U.S. Representative Steve King (R-IA), Malkin, and Fuentes. ABC News reported that Fuentes praised the January 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol; spoke about “white grievance”; and used “far-right anti-immigration rhetoric.” 5

    AFPAC’s third conference was held on February 25, 2022, concurrent with that year’s CPAC. Its featured speaker was then-U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), along with former U.S. Representative Steve King (R-IA). Then-Rep. Greene was criticized by Republicans like then-Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY), then-U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT), and former first Trump administration Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for her attendance at AFPAC. Then-Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel also made a statement that “white supremacy, neo-Nazism, hate speech and bigotry are disgusting and do not have a home in the Republican Party.” 6

    Funding

    The America First Political Action Conference is funded by its hosting organization, the America First Foundation, which solicits donations on its website. While the AFF does not disclose its larger donors, tax filings confirm donations from the Dazzio Gutierrez Family Foundation ($100,000 in 2021)  7 and the Peter Luce Foundation ($2,500 in 2023). 8

    Founder

    Nick Fuentes is the founder of the America First Foundation and its America First Political Action Conference. Fuentes is a podcast host and activist, who is considered a white nationalist, even by leading right-of-center political figures. Fuentes participated in the “Unite the Right” demonstrations in Charlottesville, Virginia in 2017 and was present at the January 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol, though he did not enter the Capitol building. At the time a supporter of then-former President Donald Trump, Fuentes dined with then-former President Trump at Mar-a-Lago in 2022. Fuentes opposes the potential presidential ambitions of Vice President J.D. Vance, and it was reported by the New York Times that Fuentes would encourage his followers to abstain from voting or vote for a “protest candidate” in the 2028 presidential election if Vice President Vance were to win the Republican nomination. 9

    Fuentes has been banned from YouTube since 2020 and TikTok will not allow him to display his name, because Fuentes has violated each platform’s hate speech policy. As of January 2026, America First with Nicholas J. Fuentes can be viewed on the platform Rumble. 9

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    Mentioned in this Article

    References

    1. Rufo, Christopher F. “What Everyone Misses about Nick Fuentes.” City Journal, November 4, 2025. https://www.city-journal.org/article/nick-fuentes-tucker-carlson-podcast.
    2. “About.” America First Foundation. Accessed January 19, 2026. https://americafirstfoundation.org/about.
    3. “Michelle Malkin receives media credentials for CPAC, despite being listed for alt-right conference.” Jewish News Syndicate, February 10, 2020. Accessed January 19, 2026. https://www.jns.org/michelle-malkin-receives-media-credential-for-cpac-despite-being-listed-for-alt-right-conference/.
    4. Jewish Telegraphic Agency. “White House Says Neo-Nazi Leader Visited on Public Tour | the Times of Israel.” Times of Israel, November 8, 2018. https://www.timesofisrael.com/white-house-says-neo-nazi-leader-visited-on-public-tour/.
    5. Steakin, Will. “GOP congressman headlines conference where organizers push white nationalist rhetoric.” ABC News, February 27, 2021. Accessed January 19, 2026. https://abcnews.go.com/US/gop-congressman-headlines-conference-organizers-push-white-nationalist/story?id=76152780.
    6. Navarro, Aaron and Costa, Robert. “Marjorie Taylor Greene downplays speaking at a conference founded by white nationalist.” CBS News, February 28, 2022. Accessed January 19, 2026. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/marjorie-taylor-greene-cpac-nick-fuentes-afpac-white-nationalist/.
    7. Dazzio Gutierrez Family Foundation, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2021, Part XV, Line 3.
    8. Peter Luce Foundation, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2023, Part XV, Line 3.
    9. Draper, Robert. “Nick Fuentes: A White Nationalist Problem for the Right.” The New York Times, September 9, 2025. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/09/us/politics/nick-fuentes-trump.html.