Members of the group Patriot Front ride the metro as a commuter looks on, during the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 4, 2026. REUTERS/Cheney Orr
The white supremacist militia group, the "Patriot Front," has taken over the streets of Capitol Hill on the 250th birthday of the United States.
Videos show that a few hundred men showed up with face coverings, waving Confederate flags along with American flags, including some that were inverted. The front two men marching held metal red, white and blue shields.
According to George Washington University, “The group promotes an ultra-nationalist ideology centered on the idea of creating a white ethnostate in the United States, rejecting multiculturalism and diversity.”
One photo by a Reuters photographer showed the male-only group surrounding a Black woman on the metro as they filled the train car.
"Absolutely terrifying to have white supremacist hate group Patriot Front march through our streets today in Washington, DC. Their manifesto calls for a white ethnostate, excludes people of color from their definition of citizenship, and is deeply anti-Semitic and xenophobic," said human rights lawyer Mai El-Sadany.
At Union Station, the men gathered to call for "reclaiming the country and getting rid of immigrants," WTOP reporter Mitchell Miller said.
"These guys have such a popular message that they have to wear masks," quipped congressional reporter Jamie Dupree.
Ashley Murray, a senior DC reporter for States News, said that she asked a National Guard soldier who they were, and the soldier reported "protesters."
WUSA reporter Spencer Brooks was quick to correct those who thought that the marchers were Proud Boys. He said that in his experience, "they show up, march around in high visibility areas, then leave via metro or even U-Haul trucks."
One political site commented, "About 100 Patriot Front nazis showed up near the Mall in DC this morning, marched around aimlessly for about half an hour, got virtually no attention, then got on the Metro and went home..."
Democratic activist recalled Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), who previously spread the conspiracy theory that the "Patriot Front" would "disappear immediately after we confirm Kash Patel" to lead the FBI. "What a coincidence that'll be." The comment was made on January 25, 2025. The conspiracy theory is that the militia was secretly FBI members trying to scare people. They remain a real group.
Twitter/X owner Elon Musk then perpetuated the conspiracy theory throughout 2024. He claimed that it was obviously a front group or psyop because police didn't remove the masks when they were arrested, reported Forbes after the protest. Those formally arrested were photographed by police without masks and Musk's social media site fact-checked his own post.