Overview
- The Washington Post reports that a 2019 meeting in Rockbridge, Ohio, convened by Peter Thiel and J.D. Vance, drew figures including Rebekah Mercer, Tucker Carlson and Oren Cass, according to people familiar with the gathering.
- That meeting reportedly led to the creation of the Rockbridge Network, led by Chris Buskirk, which has assembled pollsters, data analysts, online advertisers and a documentary arm for use in the 2026 midterms and the 2028 presidential race.
- Members of the network are described as hoping J.D. Vance will be the 2028 nominee, reflecting a strategy to position him as the movement’s successor to Trump.
- The report says Rockbridge built a database of potential voters by recruiting through nonpolitical memberships such as outdoors groups and churches.
- Buskirk’s ventures include 1789 Capital, co-founded with Omeed Malik and listing Donald Trump Jr. as a partner, plus a $500,000 Executive Branch membership club, while he promotes an 'aristopopulism' philosophy that critics say resembles pay-to-play influence.