Allies and ex-administration officials of President Donald Trump on Tuesday launched the America First Policy Institute, a nonprofit aiming to keep Trump’s populist policies alive, Axios reported.
The institute, with a first year budget of $20 million, is the largest pro-Trump outside group other than his Florida-based operation, the news outlet reported.
According to Axios, the group will move into office spaces near the U.S. Capitol to serve as the hub of the future of conservatism — with former Trump advisers Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump playing that role again for the institute.
AFPI’s president and CEO is Brooke Rollins, a Texan who was head of Trump’s Domestic Policy Council, Axios reported. She told Axios the group wants to embrace “dreamers and … risk-takers.”
According to Axios, the board chair is pro-wrestling entrepreneur Linda McMahon, former head of the Small Business Administration and a member of Trump’s cabinet. Its vice chair is Larry Kudlow, Trump’s economic adviser and a longtime CNBC personality who now is a Fox Business host.
Currently based in Arlington, Va., AFPI has been in the works since December, and will have offices in Fort Worth, Texas, where Rollins remains based, as well as Miami and New York, Axios reported. But Rollins plans to move to Washington to be closer to the action — and said she’s aiming for a doubling of AFPI’s budget to $40 million next year, Axios reported.
The group includes 20 policy areas, many run by Trump alumni, including former Energy Secretary Rick Perry, who heads the Center for Energy Independence. Former director of national intelligence John Ratcliff and retired Army Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, who was national security adviser to former Vice President Pence, will co-chair national security, Axios reported.
Other Trump allies in the group are Jack Brewer, a former NFL player and advisory board member of Black Voices for Trump who will head the Center for Opportunity Now, focused on an “underserved community agenda,” Axios reported.
Paula White, a Trump spiritual adviser, will lead the group’s Center for American Values, focused on religious freedom and the Second Amendment; ex-Florida attorney general Pam Bondi will run a “law and justice” center; and Scott Turner will top the Center of Education Opportunity, Axios reported.
Last weekend, Trump vowed to help Republicans win seats in Congress in 2022 elections, declaring “the key to this triumphant future will be to build on the gains our amazing movement has made over the past four years.”
“Under our leadership, we welcomed millions upon millions of new voters into the Republican coalition. We transformed the Republican Party into a party that truly fights for all Americans,” he said in prepared remarks.
Source: Newmax
