Proud Boys celebrate Trump acquittal as group fractures following Capitol attack
Group’s leader, Enrique Tarrio, was recently revealed to have been a longtime police and FBI informant
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Member of the Proud Boys hate group were celebrating following the acquittal of Donald Trump in the Senate.
The leader of the Proud Boys, Henry "Enrique" Tarrio, posted a celebratory message on the group's Telegram channel, proclaiming that they were "here forever" and expressing hope that Mr Trump would run for office again in 2024.
The leader of the group - who was recently revealed to have been a long-time police informant - shared a meme of Mr Trump dancing that featured a band made up of Pepe frogs.
"Lol f*** your impeachment. More than 75 million Americans don't give a f***. Trump 2024!" the post proclaimed.
Others celebrated the Democrats' losing record when it comes to impeachment trials, repeating "0 and 2" in the chat logs.
The Proud Boys is designated a hate group with "anti-Muslim", "antisemitic" and "misogynistic" beliefs by the Southern Poverty Law Center, and was recently added to Canada's terror watch list after numerous members of the organisation participated in the insurrection at the US Capitol.
Mr Tarrio said the Proud Boys were not "f***ing leaving" and that they "are here forever."
"I suggest you start figuring that out. We're your plumbers ... your mailmen ... your police officers ... your neighbors ... your carpenters ... we serve your food ... we trim your trees ... we are even your elected officials," Mr Tarrio said, confirming that - as with many other groups - its members have jobs.
"We are western chauvinist ... and we will never ****ing apologize for s***. We're here to stay. Cry harder," he wrote.
Mr Tarrio's defiant words may be an attempt to deflect from the problems the Proud Boys have experienced in the wake of the Capitol insurrection.
Not only was the organisation added to Canada's terror list, but the revelation that Mr Tarrio was a police informer pushed some chapter leaders to actually break away from the central group.
In Indiana and Oklahoma, chapter leaders declared they were breaking off from the body under Mr Tarrio's leadership. The group's former lawyer, who holds the trademark to the phrase "Proud Boys," said he would revoke Mr Tarrio's right to use the name. The lawyer, Jason Lee Van Dyke, also has ties to white supremacists.
Jared Holt, a fellow at the Atlantic Council's Digital Forensic Research Lab and expert in American right-wing extremism, told USA Today the group was struggling with its branding.
"The Telegram channel dropping the name, different chapters breaking off from the national leadership, it all speaks to a rift that’s occurring in the Proud Boys," Mr Holt said. "That brand has become too toxic."
Despite the Proud Boys' recent setbacks, Mr Tarrio's hopes for another round of MAGA may be realised, as shortly after the impeachment trial ended, Mr Trump declared he was sticking around and would later discuss his plans for the future of his extreme-right wing nationalist movement.
"Our historic, patriotic and beautiful movement to Make America Great Again has only just begun. In the months ahead I have much to share with you, and I look forward to continuing our incredible journey together to achieve American greatness for all of our people," he said in a statement.
Mr Trump famously refused to denounce the Proud Boys during the first presidential debate between himself and Joe Biden, during which the former president instructed the group to "stand back and stand by."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments