America First Party
America First Party | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Founders | Huey Long Albert C. Ritchie Carter Glass Walter F. George Ellison Smith William R. Hearst |
| Founded | 1932 (88 years ago) |
| Split from | Democratic Party |
| Headquarters | Washington D.C., U.S. |
| Student wing | College AFP |
| Youth wing |
|
| Women's wing | AFP Lady’s Society |
| Overseas wing | Patriots Overseas |
| Membership (2020) | ▼ 40,592,993 |
| Ideology | Conservatism Populism Patriotism |
| Political position | Right-wing |
| Colors | Dark blue |
The America First Party is one of the three main contemporary political parties in the United States alongside the Republican Party and the Progressive Party. The party advocates for policies that prioritized American interests and put the needs of ordinary Americans first as well as for immigration restrictionism, trade protectionism, isolationism, and opposition to social security programmes. It is the political party of incumbent President Donald Trump.
Established by Huey Long as a merger of the Democratic and Populist parties, the party was originally seen as a vehicle to help Long win the presidency in 1932, 1936 and 1940. Despite vice President Charles Lindbergh losing the highly contentious election of 1944, the party saw a return to power in the 1950s under the charasmatic Albert ‘Happy’ Chandler. The party saw a decline in support during the 1960s and ‘70s as it adopted more segregationist policies by nominating George Wallace, Phyllis Schlafly and Jesse Helms. The party saw a reversal of fortunes in the 1980s when Republican President Jeane Kirkpatrick switched to party half way through her first term before winning the party it’s first presidential election victory since 1956 in 1984. The party won a second consecutive victory in 1988 when Donald Rumsfeld was elected President. Despite losing popularity during the presidency of John McCain, the party returned to power alongside the GOP in a coalition when Donald Trump was elected at the 2016 election.