Groypers: the alt-right group pulled into the foreground
The network is led by alt-right activist Nick Fuentes


While investigators have yet to uncover and confirm the motives behind the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, at least one group, known as Groypers, has been thrust into the limelight in the aftermath of his death. The alt-right network consistently criticized Kirk’s Turning Point USA but has denied involvement in the murder. Despite this, the suspect’s alleged ties to Groypers have led to a closer eye on them.
Who are the Groypers?
They are a “far-right, online-based movement organized around white nationalist and ‘America First’” causes, said Newsweek. The term ‘Groyper’ is the name of the group’s mascot, a cartoon frog that's a “variant of the ‘Pepe’ meme used widely among extremist groups.”
Unlike other alt-right organizations, the Groyper movement “presents its ideology as more nuanced than other groups in the white supremacist sphere,” said the Anti-Defamation League. Groypers believe they are “working to defend against demographic and cultural changes.” They also believe many other groups on the right do not go far enough and “regularly confront mainstream conservative organizations,” including Kirk's Turning Point USA, for “not being adequately ‘pro-white.’”
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The group’s main goal is to “push extremist ideas into the conservative mainstream,” said Salon. Groypers often target more moderate conservatives during “coordinated campaigns where activists would attend conservative events, ask provocative questions about immigration, race or LGBTQ+ rights, and post viral clips online.”
Groypers are led in part by Nick Fuentes, an alt-right podcaster whose ”anti-Israel, anti-immigrant, anti-transgender and anti-civil-rights views seem to have gained new currency during the second Trump administration,” said The New York Times. Fuentes has become widely known for his overt antisemitism and white supremacist views and made headlines in 2022 when he dined with then-former President Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago club.
How influential are they?
In examining Kirk's alleged shooter, some have “pointed to indications that he might have considered himself a Groyper,” said The Independent. Certain messages from the suspect were reportedly linked to the Groyper movement. Fuentes has condemned Kirk’s shooting and denied that anyone from the group was involved, saying on X that there's "zero evidence."
Whether or not the suspect in this latest act of violence was a Groyper, the group appears to be gaining wider recognition. Several Groypers have also been associated with notable violent acts, including the Jan. 6, 2021, storming of the U.S. Capitol. One woman linked to the Groypers was sentenced to prison in 2023 for being “part of a group that stormed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office” during the attack, said The Associated Press. Fuentes himself was also present at the Capitol while the attack took place, though he did not enter the building.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Groypers “represent a new momentum within American white nationalism,” said the U.K. think tank Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD). By spreading their presence online, particularly among a Gen Z crowd, Groypers “hope to attract disaffected conservatives by exploiting schisms and grievances within mainstream conservatism.”
They are also a “continuation of some of the key themes commonly seen throughout the far-right’s history" in the U.S., said the ISD. Unlike many other alt-right groups, what distinguishes the Groypers is their “tech savviness and natural comfort with using the web as a means to recruit and distribute memes and propaganda.”
Justin Klawans has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022. He began his career covering local news before joining Newsweek as a breaking news reporter, where he wrote about politics, national and global affairs, business, crime, sports, film, television and other news. Justin has also freelanced for outlets including Collider and United Press International.
-
Jaguar Land Rover’s cyber bailout
Talking Point Should the government do more to protect business from the ‘cyber shockwave’?
-
Russia: already at war with Europe?
Talking Point As Kremlin begins ‘cranking up attacks’ on Ukraine’s European allies, questions about future action remain unanswered
-
Sudoku hard: October 5, 2025
The Week's daily hard sudoku puzzle
-
Miami Freedom Tower’s MAGA library squeeze
THE EXPLAINER Plans to place Donald Trump’s presidential library next to an iconic symbol of Florida’s Cuban immigrant community has South Florida divided
-
Why Trump is so focused on getting a Nobel Peace Prize
The Explainer A recent poll found that three-quarters of Americans say Trump doesn’t deserve the award
-
Cancel culture: Now coming from the Right
Feature Conservatives are encouraging the firing of hundreds of Americans over their negative opinions on Charlie Kirk
-
Trump vows vengeance against the Left
Feature The Trump administration cracks down on ‘hate speech’ from the Left after the murder of Charlie Kirk
-
What does Trump designating antifa a terror organization let him do?
Today’s Big Question Concerns about ‘broad First Amendment violations’
-
Charlie Kirk honored as ‘martyr’ at memorial rally
Speed Read At a service for the slain conservative activist, speakers included President Donald Trump and many top administration officials
-
Is hate speech still protected speech?
Talking Points Pam Bondi’s threat to target hate speech raises concerns
-
Democrats’ strategy to woo voters for 2026: religion
The Explainer Politicians like Rob Sand and James Talarico have made a name for themselves pushing their faith