Christopher (Chris) Buskirk is a right-of-center political writer and venture capitalist. Buskirk is a co-founder of the Republican donor coalition Rockbridge Network. As of 2026, he led Turnout for America and was chief investment officer of 1789 Capital and president of the Center for American Greatness, both of which he co-founded. ^{1 2}

Career

Buskirk is a co-founder and as of 2026 was president and CIO of the investment firm 1789 Capital. He is the founder and as of 2026 was the president of the right-of-center think tank Center for American Greatness. He also worked as the publisher and editor of American Greatness, a right-of-center news and opinion website aligned with populist or nationalist conservatism. ¹

The New York Times reported in July 2024 that Buskirk was the leader of Turnout for America, a political action committee (PAC) established in 2024 to support the presidential campaign of Donald Trump through voter canvassing efforts in battleground states.  ³

Buskirk has written for the New York Times, the Washington Post, The Spectator, USA Today, The Hill, and the New Criterion. Buskirk has also appeared on Fox News, NPR’s Morning Edition, “PBS Newshour,” and MSNBC. He is the author of Trump vs. The Leviathan and co-author of American Greatness: How Conservatism, Inc. Missed the 2016 Election & What the Establishment Needs to Learn. ²

With Vice President J.D. Vance, Buskirk is a co-founder of the Rockbridge Network, a coalition of Republican donors ⁴ that is reported to include technology entrepreneur Peter Thiel and conservative activist Rebekah Mercer. ⁵

Support for President Donald Trump

Before becoming a prominent figure supporting the political career of President Donald Trump and his political movement, court records show that Buskirk struggled with debt and lawsuits from collection companies, business partners, and others between 2011 and 2015. ⁶

Following the 2016 presidential election of Donald Trump, Buskirk co-founded the Center for American Greatness, which publishes the conservative commentary website American Greatness. The website promotes populist themes aligned with President Trump’s campaign messages, challenges mainstream narratives, and acts as a platform for commentary that supports President Trump and his first and second presidential administrations. His role behind the website elevated Buskirk’s standing within Republican circles. Buskirk’s position as a conservative commentator was launched by his role as publisher of American Greatness, allowing him to appear on mainstream media outlets offering analysis on President Trump’s appeal.  ⁶

Rockbridge Network

In 2019, Buskirk co-founded the Rockbridge Network with J.D. Vance. The Rockbridge Network is a coalition of Republican donors that is reported to include wealthy conservatives like Peter Thiel and Rebekah Mercer, who were among the biggest donors to President Trump’s campaign in 2016. ⁷

In November 2025, the Washington Post reported that the Rockbridge Network was planning to use its significant funding from technology-industry leaders beyond the second Trump administration, in the 2026 midterms and the 2028 presidential elections, with Vice President J.D. Vance as the hopeful Republican nominee. The Rockbridge Network aims to further its theory of social progress, namely that America will move forward with a select group of elites in charge, following Trump’s lead of putting industry leaders in positions of power. ⁵

1789 Capital

Buskirk is a co-founder and chief investment officer of 1789 Capital, an investment firm created by Buskirk, Omeed Malik, and Rebekah Mercer. ⁸

Following the election of his father Donald Trump to a second presidential term in 2024, Donald Trump Jr. joined 1789 Capital instead of taking a position in the administration. With the addition of Trump Jr., 1789 Capital dramatically expanded its portfolio, adding defense contractors, AI startups, and other companies that may benefit from federal contracts and regulatory changes. As of September 2025, it held more than $1 billion in assets.  ⁶

Political Contributions

America 21 PAC (PAC)

Americans for a Republican Majority Political Action Committee (PAC)

Blake Masters for Congress (campaign committee)

J.D. Vance for Senate (campaign committee)

John Shadegg for Congress (campaign committee)

McSally Arizona Victory Fund (PAC)

McSally for Senate (campaign committee)

National Republican Congressional Committee (527)

Never Surrender (PAC)

Ohioans for J.D. (PAC)

Republican National Committee (political party)

Save America (PAC)

Trump 47 Committee (PAC)

Vance Victory (PAC)

Working for Ohio (PAC)

1. “Chris Buskirk.” LinkedIn. Accessed February 9, 2026. https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-buskirk-164b4714/.
2. “About Us.” American Greatness. Accessed February 9, 2026. https://amgreatness.com/meet-the-team/.
3. Vogel, Kenneth P. and Schleifer, Theodore. “Facing Harris’s Momentum, Trump Allies Plan $45 Million Ground Game.” The New York Times, July 30, 2024. Accessed February 9, 2026. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/30/us/politics/trump-super-pac-voter-turnout.html.
4. Vogel, Kenneth P., Goldmacher, Shane and Mac, Ryan. “Dissatisfied With Their Party, Wealthy Republican Donors Form Secret Coalitions.” The New York Times. April 6, 2022. Accessed February 9, 2026. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/06/us/politics/republican-donors-rockbridge-network-trump.html.
5. Dwoskin, Elizabeth. “The secretive donor circle that lifted JD Vance is now rewriting MAGA’s future.” The Washington Post, November 4, 2025. Accessed February 24, 2026. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/11/04/chris-buskirk-maga-vance-post-trump/.
6. Ulmer, Alexandra and Tanfani, Joseph. “Trump-linked venture fund 1789 Capital tops $1 billion in assets.” Reuters, September 8, 2025. Accessed February 24, 2026. https://www.reuters.com/investigations/trump-linked-venture-fund-1789-capital-tops-1-billion-assets-2025-09-08/.
7. Vogel, Kenneth P.; Goldmacher, Shane and Mac, Ryan. “Dissatisfied With Their Party, Wealthy Republican Donors Form Secret Coalitions.” The New York Times, April 6, 2022. Accessed February 24, 2026. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/06/us/politics/republican-donors-rockbridge-network-trump.html.
8. “Our Team.” 1789 Capital. Accessed March 9, 2026. https://1789capital.vc/1789team