Trump Doesn’t Need the Proud Boys Anymore

Chicago: The Proud Boys used to back Donald Trump during his first term. They showed up for protests about Covid restrictions and clashes with Black Lives Matter. But since Trump left office in 2021, the group has changed a lot. Their leaders ended up in jail because of the January 6 Capitol attack.

Now, with Trump back in the spotlight, some thought the Proud Boys might return too. Yet, the situation is different now. Trump has strengthened the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency. This means the Proud Boys have less reason to leave their homes and fight. The Trump administration already has armed agents facing off with protesters.

In the past week, many people protested against ICE after an agent shot and killed a woman named Renee Nicole Good. The Proud Boys didn’t join in; instead, they mostly shared memes online. They promised to help right-wing influencers but stayed away from the streets.

A review of Proud Boy channels on Telegram shows no calls for action to defend ICE against protesters. Many of the posts are full of hateful images and reactions to the shooting. An expert noted that Proud Boys seem excited, as they support ICE’s tough stance on immigration.

On some channels, members praised ICE for their actions in Minneapolis. One post even mentioned an agent using a knee to subdue a prisoner. Meanwhile, former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio said he wanted to assist influencers who were attacked while filming. He claims he still leads the group and is waiting for a reply to his offer for help.