"Convened by Silicon Valley billionaire Peter Thiel and JD Vance, then an investor who had written a best-selling memoir, the meeting included hedge fund heiress Rebekah Mercer, then-Fox News host Tucker Carlson and economist Oren Cass, according to two people familiar with the meeting," the Post reported. "The people spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the private gathering, details of which have not been previously reported."
That gathering spurred the formation of the secretive Rockbridge Network – helmed by Arizona insurance entrepreneur and conservative media figure Chris Buskirk – that has now established itself as a driving force in GOP politics, and the tight network of donors ensconced Vance as Trump's running mate and envisions him as the movement's next leader.
"With significant funding from tech leaders, Rockbridge aims to equip MAGA to outlive Trump," the Post reported. "The group has no website or public-facing entity, but it has assembled pollsters, data crunchers, online advertisers and even a documentary film arm. It is gearing up to deploy its arsenal in the 2026 midterms and in the 2028 presidential contest, when many Rockbridge members hope Vance will be the nominee. The group has assembled a database with deep profiles of potential voters through nonpolitical memberships, including outdoors groups and churches, according to a person directly familiar with the organization."
Buskirk also co-founded with investor Omeed Malik the venture capital firm 1789 Capital, which now has Donald Trump Jr. as a partner, and recently launched Executive Branch, a $500,000 membership club for Trump-backing business leaders, all with the collective goal of giving themselves lasting political influence.
"Their efforts are grounded in a controversial theory of social progress: That a select group of elites are exactly the right people to move the country forward, a position Buskirk argues is not in defiance of MAGA’s populism," the Post reported. "Putting industry leaders in positions of power is a hallmark of Trump’s presidency — from Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to tech titan Elon Musk — and Buskirk says the MAGA movement has energized a new generation of stewards for the country."
Buskirk's projects are aimed at bridging the gap between wealthy capitalists and working-class people, according to Bushkirk himself and nine others in his inner circle, as part of a political philosophy that some on the right call "aristopopulism."
“You either have an extractive elite — an oligarchy — or you have a productive elite — an aristocracy — in every society,” Buskirk said.
Buskirk told the Post that he approached the political market as a businessman, aiming to close a gap between Trump voters and wealthy people who are alienated by the progressive left.
“Brains-plus-money-plus-base," he said.
