The Populist Paradox: Anti-Government Extremism in the Age of Trump

In the Trump era, longstanding American anti-government extremist (AGE) actors have tamed their militant activism, often falling in line with federal government policies instead. This shift, which might be termed a “populist paradox,” marks a substantial break from decades of violent precedent, which culminated in the January 6, 2021, attack against the seat of American legislative power. This ICCT policy brief explores the narratives underpinning the rapprochement between Trump’s federal government and AGE actors, finding that a shared distrust of the so-called “deep state,” hostility to immigration, and Christian nationalist infiltrations into government positions have supported the uneasy relationship. The brief, however, also explores possible cleavages, particularly identifying Trump’s muscular and militaristic foreign policy and inaction over the Jeffrey Epstein scandal as possible exacerbators of the populist paradox. Finally, the paper reflects on future pathways for anti-government extremists once the Trump era concludes.

This article represents the views of the author(s) solely. ICCT is an independent foundation, and takes no institutional positions on matters of policy unless clearly stated otherwise.

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