Startling turn of events, a recent report has exposed a growing network of white supremacist fitness clubs in the United States that have taken an unexpected stance against former President Donald Trump. The revelations, detailed by Business Insider on Sunday, March 3, 2024, showcase a significant shift within these far-right groups, criticizing Trump for what they perceive as a lack of commitment to their extremist agenda.
Jeff Tischauser, a researcher at the Southern Poverty Law Center specializing in investigating these clubs, emphasized the striking change in sentiment. “The groups I track have long since turned on Trump,” he remarked.
According to Tischauser, some extremists now view Trump as a “puppet to Jewish interests” who merely appropriates nationalist rhetoric for votes and can’t be relied upon to enact nationalist policies.
Business Insider highlighted a video from the Central CA active club, where Trump is criticized for not embodying the true spirit of a “revolutionary.”
In an unexpected twist, certain active clubs have taken to mocking and fat-shaming Trump and his supporters. The Alamo active club’s Telegram channel posted a video targeting overweight individuals and people of color at Trump rallies, labeling them as “Average conservatives.” Meanwhile, shots of white men engaged in physical activities were dubbed “average nationalists.”
This mocking tone extends to a Telegram channel affiliated with the active club movement, run by the owner of Lewis Country Store in Nashville, where Trump is regularly ridiculed for his weight.
While some within these groups may still see Trump as a tool to influence policies, Tischauser highlighted their growing distrust in the political system, potentially resulting in limited support for any political candidate.
Jon Lewis, a Research Fellow at George Washington University’s Program on Extremism, emphasized that many of these groups reject the idea of a political solution and instead advocate for societal breakdown, envisioning the emergence of a white ethnostate.
According to Lewis, these active clubs actively recruit men, preparing for what they perceive as an inevitable race war. “They see a violent revolution, a violent racial conflict as the only way to get to their desired end state,” he explained.
Despite presenting themselves as fostering community through activities like martial arts and workouts, these groups harbor a darker agenda rooted in white supremacist ideology. Telegram channels associated with these clubs showcase neo-Nazi iconography, racist memes, and antisemitic content.
In a promotional video, the leader of the SoCal active club attempted to downplay concerns, claiming their goal is to build a “positive community” and encourage white men to move “off the internet and into the real world.” However, former members reveal a gradual approach to introducing extremist ideologies, emphasizing a belief in an inevitable cultural war tied to race.
As these revelations come to light, the report suggests that these active clubs are becoming a significant factor in white terrorist radicalization in the United States, training for what they perceive as an “inevitable race war” and a “violent clash for the future of civilization.”
