Make America Number 1

Make America Number 1

Make America Number 1 was a political action committee associated with Donald Trump and Donald Trump 2016 presidential campaign that promoted a nationalist and populist agenda during the 2016 election cycle. It operated alongside organizations such as the Trump campaign (2016) and coordinated messaging with actors from the Republican Party, American Conservative Union, and conservative media figures like Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, and Steve Bannon. The committee raised funds and produced advertising that intersected with entities including Cambridge Analytica, Conservative Political Action Conference, and the National Rifle Association.

Background and Origins

Make America Number 1 formed amid tensions between the 2016 Republican presidential primaries and the eventual nomination of Donald Trump. Founding activities involved operatives linked to Brad Parscale, Kellyanne Conway, and consultants with ties to Cambridge Analytica and SCL Group. The committee's launch coincided with staffing moves related to the Trump Tower campaign headquarters, coordination with National Republican Congressional Committee strategies, and fundraising outreach targeted at donors associated with Koch Industries, Sheldon Adelson, and conservative philanthropies such as the Heritage Foundation and Federalist Society. Early fundraising events featured figures from Fox News, Breitbart News, The New York Post, and allied political action committees like Rebuilding America Now.

Policy Platform and Proposals

The group advocated policies aligned with the Trump Doctrine and proposals echoing positions from the 2016 Republican Party platform, including immigration stances referencing Secure Communities-era enforcement, trade positions reacting to North American Free Trade Agreement negotiations, and deregulatory aims parallel to initiatives pursued by the United States Department of Commerce and Environmental Protection Agency under the Trump administration. Policy messaging cited support for tax changes in the spirit of past reforms like the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 and judicial priorities nominating figures similar to Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh. Advertising targeted issues raised during debates about Affordable Care Act repeal, tariffs debated in context with World Trade Organization disputes, and border measures connected to discussions involving Department of Homeland Security leadership and bilateral talks with Mexico officials.

Political Activity and Campaigns

Make America Number 1 engaged in fundraising events, political advertising, and grassroots mobilization tied to the 2016 United States presidential election and subsequent midterm cycles. It coordinated ad buys on networks including Fox News Channel, cable outlets associated with MSNBC, and syndicated programming tied to personalities like Tucker Carlson and Laura Ingraham. The PAC supported candidates in 2018 United States elections sympathetic to Trump-era policies, endorsed campaign strategies similar to those used by Karl Rove and Roger Stone, and worked with voter-targeting firms comparable to NationBuilder and analytics firms influenced by Cambridge Analytica techniques. Legal and compliance filings engaged lawyers connected with BakerHostetler, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, and campaign finance debates overseen by the Federal Election Commission.

Reception and Criticism

The committee attracted scrutiny from media outlets such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, Politico, and international coverage by the BBC and The Guardian. Critics compared its tactics to controversies involving Cambridge Analytica, raised concerns echoing investigations by Congressional Research Service staff and panels in the United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and cited ethical questions paralleling past disputes over Super PACs and coordination rules adjudicated by the Supreme Court of the United States in cases like Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. Commentators from CSPAN, think tanks like Brookings Institution and Cato Institute, and watchdogs such as Common Cause highlighted transparency and accountability issues.

Influence and Legacy

Make America Number 1 contributed to the broader ecosystem of pro-Trump advocacy that influenced appointments, messaging, and policy priorities during the Trump administration and in subsequent Republican strategies. Its methods intersected with broader shifts exemplified by the rise of personalities like Ronald Reagan-era conservative realignment, the populist currents seen in Brexit, and communication strategies resembling those employed in campaigns for figures such as Jair Bolsonaro and Narendra Modi. The PAC's activities informed debates about campaign finance reform advocated by groups including Brennan Center for Justice and shaped how future political committees, including those linked to 2020 United States presidential election actors, organized digital outreach and paid media strategies.

Category:Political action committees