Bikers for Trump is a political group in the United States that supports Donald Trump.[2][3] The group is composed primarily of motorcycle enthusiasts and was founded to advocate for Trump's policies and campaign during his presidential runs.[4][5][6] It was founded after the Trump Chicago rally protest in March 2016, which resulted in the cancelation of the rally, and was said in 2016 to have 30,000 members.[1] Bikers for Trump has been known for organizing rallies[7] and "providing security"[8] at Trump events. The organization gained attention for its presence during Trump's 2016[9] and 2020[10] presidential campaigns.[11][12]
.jpg) The "Bikers for Trump" logo on a t-shirt | |
| Formation | c. March 2016 |
|---|---|
| Location |
|
Membership (2016) | 30,000[1] |
| Leader | Chris Cox[1] |
| Website | www |
History
editBikers for Trump was founded in 2016[10] by Chris Cox, a chainsaw artist from South Carolina.[13] The group was established in response to Donald Trump's presidential campaign and gained significant attention during the 2016 election cycle.[14] The organization's formation was inspired by an incident in March 2016 when protesters forced the cancellation of a Trump rally in Chicago.[7] Cox viewed this as an infringement on Trump's right to free speech.[14]
One of the group's most notable appearances was at the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio. Bikers for Trump announced plans to send members to the convention, stating their goal was to help maintain order and support local law enforcement.[5]
In 2019, Bikers for Trump transitioned from a grassroots movement to a political action committee (PAC), allowing them to more formally engage in political activities and fundraising.[15]
During the 2020 election cycle, the group remained active, continuing to organize rallies and events in support of Trump's re-election bid.[10]
They have also been involved in fundraising efforts. From January 2021 to December 2022, they raised $427,345.65 in donations.[16] Other records show that Save America, a leadership PAC created by Donald Trump to finance his election campaigns, disbursed $100,000 to Bikers for Trump from 2021 to 2022.[8][17]
In 2023, they were reportedly $81,000 in debt with less than $4,000 in cash on hand.[18][19]
Membership
editAs of 2016[update], Bikers for Trump claimed to have approximately 30,000 members.[1] The group's membership primarily consists of motorcycle enthusiasts, with a significant portion having military or law enforcement backgrounds. Cox has estimated that as many as 70% of members have a military background.[5]
.jpg)
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d "A biker gang is following the Trump campaign to offer additional ..." The Week. April 25, 2016.
Ever since Trump was forced to cancel a rally in Chicago because of protesters, a group of 30,000 motorcyclists called Bikers for Trump has been patrolling...
- ^ "Bikers for Trump rally on Inauguration Day". CBC. 19 January 2017. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
- ^ Byrd, Caitlin (28 December 2022). "Bikers for Trump founder planning SC congressional race against Democrat Joe Cunningham". Post and Courier. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
- ^ Laughland, Oliver (19 July 2016). "Bikers for Trump at Republican national convention: 'We're part of a movement'". the Guardian. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
- ^ a b c Krieg, Gregory (18 July 2016). "'Bikers for Trump' are rolling in to Cleveland". CNN. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
- ^ Gabbatt, Adam (8 February 2016). "Bikers for Trump: 'He'll get my vote because he's off his goddamn rocker'". the Guardian. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
- ^ a b "Trump visits Bikers for Trump rally in Bedminster, New Jersey". CBS News. 11 August 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
- ^ a b Schreckinger, Ben (27 January 2021). "Meet the Vigilantes Who Patrol Trump's Rallies". POLITICO Magazine. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
- ^ McCarthy, Barbara (20 January 2017). "Bikers for Trump arrive for inauguration with fanfare". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
- ^ a b c Pogue, James (5 September 2019). "Bikers For Trump Are Leading The President's New American Revolution". BuzzFeed News. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
- ^ Calfas, Jennifer (15 January 2017). "'Bikers for Trump' to form 'wall of meat' against inauguration protesters". The Hill. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
- ^ Broom, Scott (20 January 2017). "Bikers for Trump rider: 'Absolutely' ready for physical confrontation". USA TODAY. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
- ^ Brett, Jennifer (18 January 2017). "Meet the softspoken chainsaw artist behind Bikers for Trump". ajc. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
- ^ a b "'Bikers For Trump' Leader Says Candidate Has 'Untied The Tongue Of America'". NPR. 30 May 2016. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
COX: We embrace the free speech. We have never done anything to intimidate anybody. Bikers aren't renegade outlaws like a lot of people might think. They're not only blue-collar; they're white-collar. And they're from all tax brackets. And the biker these days is going - is very politically active. And they vote, and they're very loyal.
- ^ Wood, Josh (2 July 2019). "'He's their man': why do bikers love Trump so much?". the Guardian. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
- ^ "BIKERS FOR TRUMP - committee overview". FEC.gov. 1 December 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
- ^ "Save America". Ballotpedia. 9 November 2020. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
- ^ Alesia, Mark (31 July 2023). "Bikers for Trump is running out of gas". Raw Story. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
- ^ "COMMITTEE DETAILS FOR COMMITTEE ID C00662148" (PDF). Retrieved 29 July 2024.
Further reading
edit- "Donald Trump's Biker Force". The New York Times. July 19, 2016.
External links
edit
- Bikers for Trump official website
- Bikers for Trump 2016 campaign at the Wayback Machine (archived 3 September 2018)
- Bikers for Trump Facebook page
