Chris Buskirk
Buskirk demonstrates how a single operator can build an integrated political-financial platform spanning media, donor coordination, venture capital, public-market vehicles, election litigation, voter mobilization, and executive access while remaining absent from nearly all corporate filings through systematic use of proxy officers.
Chris Buskirk (born ~1968-69, Claremont McKenna College graduate) is a Scottsdale-based political entrepreneur who co-founded the Rockbridge Network with JD Vance in 2019, co-founded 1789 Capital with Omeed Malik and Rebekah Mercer in October 2022, and publishes the conservative media outlet American Greatness 1. Before entering political media, Buskirk spent two decades in financial services — insurance, reinsurance, specialty lending, and tax-credit financing — through entities including JAS Intermediaries, Nexteco Energy Capital, and Steadfast Holdings LLC 2.
Buskirk's organizational footprint is extensive. Rockbridge operates with a ~$75M budget and 150-200 members paying $100K-$1M in annual dues, steering eight organizations including two super PACs, four 501(c)(4)s, and a donor-advised 501(c)(3) 3. His Turnout for America super PAC raised $45.67M in the 2024 cycle 4. 1789 Capital has grown to over $3B in total AUM across 11 registered fund entities 5 6.
Corporate filings show no record of Buskirk as an officer in most of his associated entities, a pattern that analysis of filings identifies as consistent across the organization. American Greatness Inc. lists Ryan and Julie Gibson as officers; 1789 Foundation (which operates Citizen AG election litigation) lists the Yoder family and law partners. The only entity where Buskirk appears as a named officer is the Center for American Greatness 501(c)(3), where he is listed as President with $128,125 in compensation 7. Analysis of filings indicates a consistent proxy officer pattern 8. He also co-owns the Executive Branch, a private Georgetown club with $500K founding membership fees, alongside Trump Jr., Malik, and the Witkoff brothers 9.
Career and Organizational Network
Buskirk was born on a US military base in Germany and raised in Scottsdale, Arizona. He graduated from Claremont McKenna College with a BA in Political Science and Government, followed by a Publius Fellowship at the Claremont Institute (1990 cohort, alongside Jeremy Fand, Agnes Howard, and Julie Ponzi) and an Earhart Foundation fellowship 10. His early career was in his father's insurance businesses in Scottsdale before founding JAS Intermediaries Ltd, Inc. (insurance/reinsurance intermediary), followed by Diversified Risk Management Holdings, Nexteco Energy Capital, Crucible Energy Partners (renewable energy tax credit financing), Americas Cash Express (consumer lending), and Steadfast Holdings LLC (family investment vehicle) 2 11.
Buskirk sold most of his business operations around 2015 and pivoted to political media, co-founding American Greatness in early 2016 with Seth Leibsohn 12. He serves as publisher and editor, while also co-hosting 'The Seth and Chris Show' on 960 KKNT AM in Phoenix 12. His publishing credentials include opinion writing for the New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, and The Hill, along with regular appearances on PBS NewsHour, NPR, Fox News, and CNN 12. He has authored three books through Encounter Books: 'American Greatness' (2017, co-authored with Leibsohn), 'Trump vs The Leviathan' (2018), and 'America and the Art of the Possible' (2023, blurbed by JD Vance) 12.
The Center for American Greatness Inc. (EIN 81-4984970) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based at 3107 E Camelback Rd, Phoenix AZ, with 2023 gross receipts of $1.845M and 2024 revenue of $1.7M (99.8% from contributions) 7. Buskirk serves as President and Director ($128,125 compensation in 2024) 7. Fellow directors include J. Eric E. Wise (Secretary/Director, King & Spalding restructuring partner) and Ned Ryun, who also serves as director of Better Tomorrow, the Rockbridge Network's voter mobilization arm — a board overlap linking the publishing organization to the political operation 7 13.
Rockbridge Network Operations
Buskirk co-founded the Rockbridge Network with JD Vance in 2019, growing it from informal dinners near Rockbridge, Ohio into a 150-200 member donor coordination network with an estimated $75M budget for the 2024 cycle 3. Donors include Peter Thiel, Rebekah Mercer, and Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss 3. Membership costs between $100K and $1M annually 3. Buskirk runs day-to-day operations while Vance, now Vice President, provides the political profile 3.
According to available records, Rockbridge steers eight organizations: four 501(c)(4)s, two super PACs, one donor-advised 501(c)(3), and the umbrella LLC 3. According to reporting, Buskirk directly leads at least three subsidiaries: Turnout for America (super PAC, $45.67M raised in 2024), Firebrand Action (501(c)(4), established 2022, media/investigative journalism arm), and Faithful in Action (Wyoming-registered, 160K+ members, Christian voter mobilization) 14. According to FEC records, he also advised Saving Arizona PAC ($31.8M raised, $15M from Thiel), which backed Blake Masters's 2022 Senate run 14.
According to multiple reporting accounts, Buskirk's relationship with Thiel predates Rockbridge: Thiel is described as having financed Buskirk's early political activism through committees that paid consulting fees to Buskirk's company, and as having introduced Vance to Buskirk 15. According to these accounts, Marc Andreessen and Emil Michael have appeared at Rockbridge events as speakers and attendees, respectively, and Palmer Luckey has also spoken at Rockbridge gatherings 15. Leonard Leo spoke at the April 2024 Palm Beach retreat, connecting the Rockbridge donor network to the Federalist Society's judicial personnel infrastructure 3.
Chris Buskirk
1789 Capital and the Colombier SPAC Series
1789 Capital was co-founded in October 2022 by Buskirk (Founder & CIO), Omeed Malik (Founder & President), and Rebekah Mercer 16. The firm emerged from discussions at a Rockbridge Mar-a-Lago meeting in 2022 16. SEC filings reveal 11 distinct fund entities registered under 1789 Capital, all originally at 214 Brazilian Ave Ste 200-J, Palm Beach FL, recently moving to 375 S County Rd Ste 220 17.
The original February 2023 Form D disclosed $10M raised from a single investor against a $100M target, with Malik, Mercer, and Buskirk as three Managing Members of the GP 5. By December 2025, Fund I LP had grown to $270.5M across 71 investors, and Mercer had been removed from filings 5. Total AUM across all vehicles exceeds $3B as of early 2026: the Growth Equity Fund grew from $200M to $2B in 2025 alone (now closed to new investors) and holds positions in SpaceX, Anduril, xAI, Neuralink, Groq, Cerebras, Perplexity AI, Plaid, and Ramp 6. A $1B real estate fund with Frisbie Group targets South Florida luxury properties 6. Donald Trump Jr. became a partner in November 2024 6.
The Colombier SPAC franchise is a public-markets arm of the 1789 Capital ecosystem. Colombier I (2021) merged with PSQ Holdings/PublicSq 18. Colombier II (2023, $130M IPO) merged with GrabAGun (online firearms retailer) on July 14-15, 2025, creating GrabAGun Digital Holdings Inc (NYSE: PEW) with $179M+ gross proceeds and near-zero redemptions 19. The GrabAGun board includes Trump Jr. (Director, 11,433 RSUs), Blake Masters (Director), and Chris W. Cox 19. Buskirk served as independent Director and Audit Committee Chair; his Form 4 discloses 17,250 Class A shares directly, plus 500,000 shares and 1,250,000 warrants indirectly via Anabasis VI LLC and 1789 Capital Fund I LP 20. Colombier III completed a $299M IPO on February 4-5, 2026, with a target still to be announced 18. Combined, the three SPACs have raised approximately $600M+ in public markets 18.
Political Infrastructure
Turnout for America (C00883520) raised $45.67M in the 2024 cycle 4. Top donors include Diane Hendricks ($11M), Kelcy Warren/Energy Transfer ($7.5M+), D. Andrew Beal ($2M), Howard Lutnick ($1.98M), Jeff Sprecher ($1M), Roger Penske ($1M), and Luke Nosek of the PayPal Mafia ($500K) 4. The PAC spent $4.66M on Patriot Grassroots for canvassing, $750K to America 21 PAC, $645K to Primo Communications, $562K to Timoleon LLC, $501K to Telperion LLC, $400K to Forward Strategies, and smaller amounts to Grigsby Applegate, Pulse Associates, American Majority Action, Crowned Eagle Consulting, and American Encore 4.
America 21 PAC (C00804690), registered February 2022, is linked to Buskirk through shared operational infrastructure 21. He donated $30,500 personally 22. The PAC received $800K from Saving Arizona PAC (the Thiel-funded Blake Masters vehicle), $750K from Turnout for America, and $87.6K from Michigan Strong 21. Analysis of FEC records indicates it uses an identical vendor network: Telperion LLC, Timoleon LLC, Pulse Associates, Crosby Ottenhoff, Holtzman Vogel PLLC, Howard Sckolnik CPA, and Chain Bridge Bank 23. America 21's largest single disbursement was $750K to MAGA KY, an anti-Thomas Massie PAC run by Trump operatives Fabrizio and LaCivita 21. Paul Singer donated $1M in November 2025 21.
Both PACs bank at Chain Bridge Bank (McLean, VA), founded by former Senator Peter Fitzgerald 24. Known as "the bank of the Republican Party," it has served every GOP presidential campaign since McCain 2008 and the RNC 24. Chain Bridge makes monthly interest deposits to both PACs: $28-39K per month to TFA and $1.9-4.5K per month to America 21 24. The bank completed its IPO in October 2024, raising $41M 24.
According to available records, Faithful in Action (Wyoming-registered, 2023) is a church mobilization organization with 160K+ members, led by Buskirk as President, and Firebrand Action (Virginia, 2022) handles journalism for the Rockbridge ecosystem 14.
Proxy Officer Pattern
Buskirk is publicly identified as publisher, CIO, president, or founder of multiple entities, yet he is absent from nearly all corporate filings. Analysis of filings indicates this pattern operates through at least two distinct officer clusters 8.
According to Florida records, American Greatness Inc (EIN 45-2338676) was incorporated on May 5, 2011 — five years before the blog launched in 2016 25. Review of records indicates its officers are Ryan C Gibson (President and registered agent), Julie C Gibson (Secretary/Treasurer), and Bonnie McQuiston (VP), all at 14 Alligator Cove, Santa Rosa Beach FL 32459, and that the same three individuals operate SJ Consulting LLC (formed 2006) from the same residential address 25. Examination of filings shows Buskirk appears on zero corporate records despite being publicly identified as publisher since launch 25.
1789 Foundation Inc. (EIN 88-3099118), the legal entity behind Citizen AG election litigation, was founded in May 2022 in Florida 26. Its officers are Eric Scharfenberger (President), Gabrielle Yoder (Secretary), and Nicole Cristine Pearson (Treasurer) 26. Mike Yoder founded Citizen AG; Gabrielle Yoder is his wife 26. The entity operates from a Northwest Registered Agent address at 7901 4th St N Ste 300, St. Petersburg FL 26. Buskirk does not appear on any filing 26. The law firm Yoder Dreher Pearson LLP connects all three officers 26.
The sole entity where Buskirk appears as a named officer is the Center for American Greatness Inc., the 501(c)(3) research arm 7. Analysis of filings indicates his consistent absence from other entities — using the Gibson household cluster for the media entity and the Yoder legal cluster for the litigation entity — represents a pattern of maintaining operational control while minimizing formal corporate footprint 8.
Executive Branch Private Club
Buskirk is co-owner of the Executive Branch, a private club in Georgetown, DC, alongside Donald Trump Jr., Omeed Malik, Alex Witkoff, and Zachary Witkoff (sons of Steve Witkoff, Trump's Middle East envoy) 9. Founding membership costs $500K 9. Founding members include David Sacks, Chamath Palihapitiya, the Winklevoss twins, and Jeff Miller 9.
Documented attendees include Secretary of State Rubio, Attorney General Pam Bondi, DNI Gabbard, FCC Chair Carr, FTC Chair Ferguson, SEC Chair Atkins, Dan Bongino, and Mehmet Oz 9. According to reporting, the club is designed to allow business executives private access to Trump advisors and Cabinet members 9.
The Palm Beach address cluster further connects Buskirk and Malik: 214 Brazilian Ave Ste 200-J houses 1789 Capital, Colombier Sponsor II LLC, Knights Court LLC (Malik as manager), and Pecora1718 LLC (formed February 2025, purpose unknown) 27. The shared Palm Beach address is consistent with an operational relationship between Buskirk and Malik spanning investment, SPACs, and political access 27.
FEC Donation History
FEC records show Buskirk's personal political contributions across multiple cycles 22. In the 2021-2022 cycle, with employer listed as 'CAG' (Center for American Greatness): $30,500 to America 21 PAC, $5,800 to Ohioans for JD (Vance super PAC), $2,900 to JD Vance for Senate, $2,900 to Working for Ohio, and $5,800 to WinRed 22.
In the 2023-2024 cycle, with employer listed as 'self-employed' or 'CAG' from Paradise Valley, AZ: $110K to Trump 47 Committee, $106.7K to RNC, $5.8K to Blake Masters for Congress, $10K to Vance Victory, $5K to JD Vance for Senate, $5.6K to Never Surrender Inc, and $5.3K to WinRed 28. According to analysis of FEC records, his total personal giving across both cycles exceeds $290K, directed to Trump infrastructure, Vance-linked vehicles, and Masters 14.
Records show the early timing of Buskirk's Vance donations: the September 2021 donation to Ohioans for JD predates the Senate primary 22. His son, Christopher Buskirk Jr. (listed as student, Paradise Valley AZ), donated $500 to Brandon Gill for Texas in January 2024 22.
1789 Foundation Election Litigation
1789 Foundation Inc., operating as Citizen AG, filed three coordinated voter roll challenge cases within 72 hours of each other in late October 2024 — a pre-election litigation strategy targeting swing states 29.
In Arizona, 1789 Foundation v. Fontes (2:24-cv-02987) was filed October 28, 2024 29. A temporary restraining order was denied on November 1, but the court ordered voter roll records released 29. The case was voluntarily dismissed on May 8, 2025 29. The lead attorney was Alexander Kolodin (AZ state representative, District 3), who had been disciplined by the Arizona Bar in December 2023 — receiving 18 months probation — for filing frivolous cases, including serving as local counsel for Sidney Powell's 'Kraken' lawsuit (Bowyer v. Ducey, 2:20-cv-02321) 30. Kolodin is now running for Arizona Secretary of State in the 2026 Republican primary 30.
In Pennsylvania, 1789 Foundation v. Schmidt (3:24-cv-01865) was filed October 30 29. A TRO and preliminary injunction were denied October 29 29. Plaintiffs failed to file an amended complaint, and the case was finally dismissed on June 10, 2025 29.
In Wisconsin, 1789 Foundation v. ERIC (3:24-cv-00755) challenged ERIC's use of driver records under the DPPA 29. WisDOT and CEIR were dismissed as parties by January 2025; the case against ERIC and David Becker remained ongoing as of November 2025 with discovery stayed pending motions to dismiss 29.
Nicole Cristine Pearson, who serves as 1789 Foundation's treasurer, simultaneously acted as litigation counsel in the Arizona case — concentrating fiduciary and legal control in the same individual 31. Her firm Yoder Dreher Pearson LLP, co-founded with Mike Yoder and Rachel Dreher, handled Citizen AG litigation across all three jurisdictions 31.
All Connections
20 total
All Connections
20 totalCo-founders of Rockbridge Network (2019). Buskirk hosted early dinners to build infrastructure for Vance political career. Rockbridge grew from informal dinners near Rockbridge OH into 150-200 member donor network with 75M budget by 2024.
Buskirk is operational leader of Rockbridge Network. Also president of two subsidiaries: Firebrand Action (media arm) and Faithful in Action (church mobilization). Runs day-to-day operations while Vance provides political cover from VP office.
Co-founder and CIO of 1789 Capital (est. 2022) alongside Omeed Malik and Rebekah Mercer. 1789 Capital emerged from discussions at Rockbridge Mar-a-Lago meeting in 2022. Fund crossed 1B AUM by Sep 2025. Invested 15M in Tucker Carlson media company.
Buskirk founded American Greatness in 2016 as conservative media publication. Continues to serve as publisher. This provides media infrastructure complementary to Rockbridge political operations.
Gibson serves as proxy president/registered agent for American Greatness Inc while Buskirk is the actual publisher. Gibson also operates SJ Consulting LLC from the same residential address.
Ryun is director of both Center for American Greatness (alongside Buskirk) and Better Tomorrow (Rockbridge voter mobilization arm). Cross-entity board overlap links the publishing arm to the political operation.
Kolodin served as attorney for 1789 Foundation/Citizen AG in the AZ voter roll case. Bar-disciplined for frivolous election suits. Now running for AZ Secretary of State.
Both Rockbridge Network attendees
Andreessen is Rockbridge speaker
Yoder founded Citizen AG / 1789 Foundation; Buskirk's Rockbridge network appears to coordinate with Citizen AG election litigation strategy but Buskirk maintains zero corporate footprint on the entity
All Findings
32 total
All Findings
32 totalfinancial (15)
Buskirk personal FEC donations totaling ~K+ in 2024 cycle: K to Trump 47 Committee, .7K to RNC, K to Save America, .6K to Never Surrender Inc, K to Vance Victory, .8K to Blake Masters for Congress, .3K to WinRed. Employer listed as 'self-employed' or 'CAG' or 'American Greatness'. Located in Paradise Valley, AZ.
Buskirk led Turnout for America super PAC (C00883520), which raised $45.67M in 2024 cycle. Top donors: Diane Hendricks ($11M), Kelcy Warren/Energy Transfer ($7.5M+), D. Andrew Beal ($2M), Howard Lutnick ($1.98M), Jeff Sprecher ($1M), Roger Penske ($1M), Luke Nosek/PayPal Mafia ($500K). PAC spent $4.66M on Patriot Grassroots for canvassing, $750K to America 21 PAC, $645K to Primo Communications, $562K to Timoleon LLC, $501K to Telperion LLC, $400K to Forward Strategies, $266K to Grigsby Applegate, $262K to Pulse Associates, $250K to American Majority Action, $212K to Crowned Eagle Consulting, $110K to American Encore.
Buskirk is Founder and CIO of 1789 Capital, anti-ESG venture capital firm co-founded with Omeed Malik (Founder/President) and Rebekah Mercer in Oct 2022. The fund has topped $1B in assets, investing in SpaceX, xAI, and Neuralink. Donald Trump Jr. joined the firm. 1789 Capital emerged from the Rockbridge Network.
America 21 PAC (C00804690) is a super PAC registered Feb 2022, closely linked to Buskirk. He donated $30,500 personally. PAC received $800K from Saving Arizona PAC (Peter Thiel-funded Blake Masters vehicle), $750K from Turnout for America, $87.6K from Michigan Strong. Uses identical vendor network as TFA: Telperion LLC, Timoleon LLC, Pulse Associates, Crosby Ottenhoff, Holtzman Vogel, Howard Sckolnik CPA, Chain Bridge Bank. Largest disbursement: $750K to MAGA KY (anti-Thomas Massie PAC run by Trump operatives Fabrizio/LaCivita). Paul Singer donated $1M in Nov 2025. Total receipts across 3 cycles: $3.64M.
Turnout for America and America 21 PAC share identical vendor infrastructure: Telperion LLC (Wilmington, DE) for management consulting/rent, Timoleon LLC (political strategy), Pulse Associates LLC (research/media/donor development), Crosby Ottenhoff Group (compliance), Holtzman Vogel PLLC (legal), Howard Sckolnik CPA (accounting), and Chain Bridge Bank (banking). Both also receive monthly interest deposits from Chain Bridge Bank. This shared vendor network strongly suggests common operational control by Buskirk.
Chain Bridge Bank (McLean, VA), founded by ex-Sen. Peter Fitzgerald, is the banking institution for both Turnout for America and America 21 PAC. Known as 'the bank of the Republican Party,' it has served every GOP presidential campaign since McCain 2008 and the RNC since 2008. The bank makes monthly interest deposits to both PACs: ~$28-39K/month to TFA and ~$1.9-4.5K/month to America 21. Chain Bridge had its IPO in Oct 2024, raising $41M, with its fortunes explicitly tied to the Republican Party's success.
Buskirk 2021-2022 cycle FEC donations: $30,500 to America 21 PAC, $5,800 to Ohioans for JD (Vance super PAC), $2,900 to JD Vance for Senate, $2,900 to Working for Ohio, $5,800 to WinRed. All donations listed employer as 'CAG' (Center for American Greatness). His son Christopher Buskirk Jr. (student, Paradise Valley AZ) donated $500 to Brandon Gill for Texas in Jan 2024.
Buskirk political spending and organizational control: (1) Rockbridge Network co-founder (2019) with JD Vance — membership costs $100K-$1M. (2) 1789 Capital co-founder/CIO (Oct 2022) with Omeed Malik and Rebekah Mercer — crossed $1B AUM 2025. (3) Turnout for America super PAC founder — raised $25M+ in 2024. (4) President of Firebrand Action (Virginia, 2022) — Rockbridge's media/investigative journalism arm. (5) President of Faithful in Action (Wyoming, 2023) — church mobilization. (6) Advisor to Saving Arizona PAC (2021-22, backed Blake Masters, $31.8M raised, $15M from Thiel). (7) Co-owner Executive Branch (Georgetown DC, 2025) — MAGA members club with Trump Jr, Malik, Witkoff brothers. (8) Director, Colombier Acquisition Corp II and III (SPACs). (9) Position at PublicSquare marketplace. FEC donations 2023-24: $110K to Trump 47 Committee, $106.7K to RNC, $5.8K to Blake Masters, $10K to Vance Victory, $5K to JD Vance for Senate.
SEC filings reveal 11 distinct 1789 Capital fund entities registered with EDGAR, all at 214 Brazilian Ave Ste 200-J Palm Beach FL (recently moving to 375 S County Rd Ste 220). Buskirk and Omeed Malik are named as principals of the GP across all funds. Entities: Fund I LP (270.5M sold, 71 investors), BH LP (9.7M), Co-Invest I LP (2.162M), CHPS LP, CHPS II LP, Lakehouse LP, Lakehouse II LP, Matrix LP (2M), Matrix II LP, Matrix III LP (8.6M), Treehouse II LP. Original 2023 Form D listed Rebekah Mercer as third Managing Member of GP; by 2025 she was removed from filings. Fund reclassified from Private Equity Fund to Other Investment Fund.
Buskirk Form 4 (July 17 2025) for Colombier II/GrabAGun reveals: 17,250 Class A shares direct; 500,000 shares indirect (100K via Anabasis VI LLC, 400K via 1789 Capital Fund I LP); 1,250,000 warrants at 11.50 strike (250K via Anabasis VI LLC, 1M via 1789 Capital Fund I LP). All received as pro rata distribution from Colombier Sponsor II LLC upon merger completion. Buskirk served as Director of Colombier II and Chair of Audit Committee. Anabasis VI LLC is a previously unknown Buskirk-linked entity.
Colombier II SPAC merged with GrabAGun (online firearms retailer) completing July 14-15 2025, creating GrabAGun Digital Holdings Inc (NYSE: PEW). Deal delivered 179M+ gross proceeds with near-zero redemptions. Board includes Donald Trump Jr (Director, 11433 RSUs), Blake Masters (Director), and Chris W. Cox. Colombier II S-1 listed Buskirk as independent Director, Audit Committee Chair. Colombier Sponsor II LLC purchased 5M private placement warrants at 1/warrant. Officers: Malik (CEO/Chairman), Voboril (CFO), Nasser (CIO), Cohen (COO). Director nominees: Kavanaugh, Buskirk, Willoughby, Seifert (PSQ Holdings CEO).
Colombier Acquisition Corp III (CIK 0002091024) completed 299M IPO on Feb 4-5 2026, the third Colombier SPAC. Malik as CEO, underwritten by Roth Capital and StoneX Financial. This represents a significant scaling of the Colombier SPAC franchise: Colombier I (2021, merged with PSQ Holdings/PublicSq), Colombier II (2023 130M IPO, merged with GrabAGun), Colombier III (2026 299M IPO, target TBD). Combined, the three SPACs have raised approximately 600M+ in public markets.
1789 Capital Fund I original Feb 2023 Form D reveals fund started with just 10M raised from 1 investor against 100M target, with three Managing Members of GP: Omeed Malik, Rebekah Mercer, and Christopher Buskirk. The single investor at launch was almost certainly Mercer. By Dec 2025 the fund grew to 270.5M across 71 investors, Mercer was removed from filings, and two additional personnel (Jordan Cohen, Joe Voboril) appeared on later SPV filings. This capital growth trajectory (10M to 270.5M in under 3 years) coincides with the Trump-affiliated political network expanding.
Address co-location analysis: 214 Brazilian Ave Palm Beach FL 33480 houses at minimum: 1789 Capital Fund I GP LLC (Ste 200-J), Colombier Sponsor LLC (Ste 200-A, inactive), Colombier Sponsor II LLC (Ste 200-J), Pecora1718 LLC (Ste 200-J, formed Feb 2025, purpose unknown), Knights Court LLC (Ste 200-J, Malik as MGR, EIN 86-2458007), plus all 1789 Capital SPV funds. The building also houses Aleutian Capital Partners LLC, GenRock Capital Management LP, and Zinczenko Media Inc (Suite 250). The office recently moved to 375 S County Rd Ste 220 Palm Beach (visible in Dec 2025 and Jan 2026 SEC filings).
1789 Capital total AUM across all vehicles estimated at over 3B as of early 2026: Growth Equity Fund grew from 200M to 2B in 2025 alone (now closed to new investors); Fund I LP at 270.5M; 1B real estate fund partnership with Frisbie Group targeting South Florida luxury properties; plus SPV deals totaling approximately 22M+ in direct Form D reported sales. The real estate fund marks expansion from tech/defense VC into property. The Growth Equity Fund holds positions in SpaceX, Anduril, Groq, Cerebras, Perplexity AI, Plaid, Ramp, Neuralink, xAI, X (Twitter). Donald Trump Jr became a partner in Nov 2024.
relationship (4)
Buskirk co-founded Rockbridge Network with JD Vance in 2019. Rockbridge steers 8 organizations: 4 dark-money 501(c)(4)s, 2 super PACs, 1 donor-advised 501(c)(3), and the umbrella LLC. ~$75M budget for 2024 cycle. Donors include Peter Thiel, Rebekah Mercer, Cameron/Tyler Winklevoss. ~150-200 members paying $100K-$1M dues. Firebrand Action (501c4, est. 2022) handles Rockbridge efforts to influence journalism. Turnout for America is one of Rockbridge's two super PACs.
Buskirk is co-owner of Executive Branch, ultra-exclusive MAGA private club in Georgetown DC, alongside Donald Trump Jr., Omeed Malik, Alex Witkoff and Zach Witkoff (sons of Steve Witkoff, Trump Middle East envoy). Founding membership fee: $500K. Founding members include David Sacks, Chamath Palihapitiya, Winklevoss twins, Jeff Miller. Attendees include Sec. Rubio, AG Bondi, DNI Gabbard, FCC chair Carr, FTC chair Ferguson, SEC chair Atkins, Dan Bongino, Mehmet Oz. Club is designed to allow business executives private access to Trump advisors and Cabinet members.
Buskirk relationship map - key network connections: (1) PETER THIEL: described as Thiel 'confidant'; Thiel financed Buskirk's early political activism via committees that paid consulting fees to Buskirk's company; Thiel introduced Vance to Buskirk; Thiel major Rockbridge donor. (2) JD VANCE: co-founded Rockbridge Network 2019; Buskirk hosted dinners to build Vance's political career; Vance blurbed Buskirk's 2023 book. (3) OMEED MALIK: co-founded 1789 Capital; co-directors Colombier SPACs; co-owners Executive Branch club. (4) REBEKAH MERCER: co-founded 1789 Capital; major Rockbridge donor. (5) BLAKE MASTERS: Buskirk advised Saving Arizona PAC ($31.8M, $15M Thiel); donated $5,800 to Masters (Sept 2021) plus $3,300 for Congress 2024. (6) DONALD TRUMP JR: co-owners Executive Branch; Trump Jr joined 1789 Capital as partner Nov 2024. (7) SETH LEIBSOHN: co-founded American Greatness 2016; co-hosted radio show; co-authored book. (8) MICHAEL ANTON: fellow Claremont Institute alum; intellectual peer in Trump-era conservative media.
Alexander Michael Kolodin (AZ state rep, District 3) served as attorney for 1789 Foundation in the AZ voter roll case (2:24-cv-02987). He was disciplined by the AZ Bar in Dec 2023 — 18 months probation for filing frivolous cases including acting as local counsel for Sidney Powell's 'Kraken' lawsuit (Bowyer v. Ducey, 2:20-cv-02321). He also represented clients in Ward v. Thompson (election challenge) and ballot box monitoring cases. Now running for AZ Secretary of State (2026 R primary). His firm Kolodin Law Group PLLC and Davillier Law Group (where colleague Veronica Lucero also practices election law) form part of the AZ election litigation network connected to Citizen AG/1789 Foundation.
legal (5)
1789 Foundation Inc. (EIN 88-3099118) is the legal entity behind Citizen AG. Founded May 2022 in FL. Officers are Eric Scharfenberger (Pres), Gabrielle Yoder (Sec), Nicole Cristine Pearson (Trea). Mike Yoder founded Citizen AG; Gabrielle Yoder is his wife. The entity operates from a Northwest Registered Agent commercial address at 7901 4th St N Ste 300, St Petersburg FL 33702. Chris Buskirk does NOT appear on any filing. The law firm Yoder Dreher Pearson LLP connects all three officers. Citizen AG filed NVRA voter roll challenges in AZ, PA, and WI in Oct 2024 — all three were dismissed or abandoned by mid-2025.
Center for American Greatness Inc. (EIN 81-4984970) at 3107 E Camelback Rd, Phoenix AZ 85016 is the ONLY Buskirk-affiliated entity where he appears as an officer: President/Director (compensation $128,125 in 2024). Other directors: J. Eric E. Wise (Secretary/Director, King & Spalding restructuring partner), Ned Ryun (Director — also director of Better Tomorrow, the Rockbridge voter mobilization arm). Revenue $1.7M in 2024, 99.8% from contributions. This is the 501(c)(3) research arm, distinct from American Greatness Inc. the publisher.
Buskirk operates through a deliberate opacity architecture: (1) 1789 Foundation/Citizen AG — officers are the Yoder family (Mike founded it, wife Gabrielle is secretary) plus law partners Dreher and Pearson; (2) American Greatness Inc — officers are Ryan/Julie Gibson household plus neighbor Bonnie McQuiston; (3) Rockbridge Network entities — Better Tomorrow has Ned Ryun and Janna Rutland; Faithful in Action in Wyoming; Firebrand Action in Virginia. The ONLY entity where Buskirk appears as a named officer is Center for American Greatness Inc (the 501c3 research arm). He is publicly identified as publisher/CIO/president of multiple entities but absent from all corporate filings. This is a consistent pattern of using proxy officers across at least 2 distinct personal networks (the Gibson cluster and the Yoder cluster) to maintain legal distance.
Nicole Cristine Pearson serves dual role as 1789 Foundation treasurer AND litigation counsel in the AZ voter roll case (listed as Citizen AG attorney). CA Bar #265350, admitted Dec 2009, Loyola Law School. Founded Facts Law Truth Justice (FLTJ) in 2020, focuses on constitutional/civil rights cases. Worked with Liberty Justice Center on CA ballot measure cases. Her firm Yoder Dreher Pearson LLP with co-founders Mike Yoder and Rachel Dreher handles the Citizen AG litigation. Rachel Dreher is FL Bar #32092, also practices from Lake Worth Beach FL (Dreher Law Group PLLC). This officer-counsel overlap means the foundation's treasurer is also one of its litigation attorneys, concentrating fiduciary and legal control.
All three 1789 Foundation/Citizen AG election cases failed: (1) AZ — 1789 Foundation v. Fontes (2:24-cv-02987): TRO denied Nov 1 2024, but court ordered voter roll records released. Voluntarily dismissed May 8, 2025. (2) PA — 1789 Foundation v. Schmidt (3:24-cv-01865): TRO/PI denied Oct 29 2024. Dismissed May 2, 2025; plaintiffs failed to file amended complaint; final dismissal June 10, 2025. (3) WI — 1789 Foundation v. ERIC (3:24-cv-00755): DPPA-based challenge to ERIC's use of driver records. WisDOT and CEIR dismissed as parties Dec 2024-Jan 2025; case against ERIC and David Becker stays ongoing as of Nov 2025 (discovery stayed pending motions to dismiss). All three cases were filed within 72 hours of each other (Oct 28-30, 2024) — a coordinated pre-election litigation strategy.
identity (8)
Born 1969, Claremont McKenna grad, serial finance entrepreneur, founder/CIO of 1789 Capital, head of Rockbridge Network
Christopher Buskirk (born 1969), Claremont McKenna College graduate (Politics and Government). Career in insurance, reinsurance, specialty lending, and tax-credit financing. Over 15 years as growth-stage investor. Author of American and The Art of the Possible (Encounter Books, 2023). Head of Rockbridge Network (LittleSis 423815). Founder and CIO of 1789 Capital (LittleSis 439746). Founder of Turnout for America super PAC (LittleSis 451589). Owner of Executive Branch private DC club (LittleSis 457006). Position at PublicSquare (LittleSis 439745). FEC records show donations to Blake Masters (5800), Ohioans for JD (5800), WinRed (11600), America 21 PAC (30500).
Christopher Buskirk (b. ~1968-69, US military base in Germany, raised Scottsdale AZ). BA Political Science, Claremont McKenna College. Publius Fellow at Claremont Institute, Earhart Foundation fellowship. Serial entrepreneur in financial services (Buskirk Capital — insurance, reinsurance, specialty lending, tax-credit financing). Sold businesses ~2015. Founded American Greatness blog 2016. Publisher/editor American Greatness, co-author of 'American Greatness' book (2017). Co-founded Rockbridge Network 2019 with JD Vance. Co-founded 1789 Capital (Oct 2022) with Omeed Malik and Rebekah Mercer, serving as Founder & CIO. President of Faithful in Action (160K+ members, Christian voter mobilization). Founder of Turnout for America super PAC ($45.67M raised). Position at PublicSq (PSQ Holdings, via Colombier SPAC merger). Confidant of Peter Thiel, friends with RFK Jr and JD Vance. LittleSis entity 439747. FEC donations: Blake Masters, WinRed, Ohioans for JD, America 21 PAC.
Christopher William Buskirk, born ~1968-69 on US military base in Germany to American parents. Raised in Scottsdale, AZ. Graduated Claremont McKenna College (BA Political Science/Government). Claremont Institute Publius Fellow (1990 cohort, alongside Jeremy Fand, Agnes Howard, Julie Ponzi). Earhart Foundation fellowship recipient. Worked in father's insurance businesses before founding own finance companies. Full name confirmed via FEC records: BUSKIRK, CHRISTOPHER W. Current residence: 8009 N 66th St, Paradise Valley, AZ 85253. Wife: Gina Buskirk (Italian-American from Detroit). Four children including Christopher Buskirk Jr (student as of 2024).
Buskirk business career timeline: (1) Worked in father's insurance businesses in Scottsdale in early career. (2) Founded JAS Intermediaries Ltd, Inc. (Scottsdale, insurance/reinsurance intermediary) — served as President/CEO, incorporated ~2000. (3) Built and sold multiple businesses in insurance, reinsurance, specialty lending, and tax-credit financing over 15+ years. (4) Founded Buskirk Capital (family investment office, Scottsdale). (5) Sold most business operations ~2015 to pivot to political media. Self-described as 'serial entrepreneur in financial services.' Listed employer as 'self-employed/consultant' on FEC filings.
Buskirk media and institutional empire: (1) Co-founded American Greatness blog (early 2016) with Seth Leibsohn — serves as editor/publisher. (2) President of Center for American Greatness (501c3, EIN 81-4984970, Phoenix AZ, 2020 revenue $1.87M). (3) Co-hosted 'The Seth and Chris Show' on 960 KKNT AM (Phoenix). (4) Contributing opinion writer, New York Times. Published in WaPo, USA Today, The Hill, The Spectator, The New Criterion. (5) Regular on PBS NewsHour, NPR, Fox News, CNN. (6) Books: 'American Greatness' co-authored w/Leibsohn (2017), 'Trump vs The Leviathan' (2018, Encounter Books), 'America and the Art of the Possible' (2023, Encounter Books). (7) Speaker at NatCon 2019 ('Globalism Dehumanizes Us'), NatCon 2021, Aspen Ideas Festival 2019.
Colombier II S-1 biography reveals Buskirk's full business history: Founded multiple finance businesses 1996-present including JAS Intermediaries/Diversified Risk Management Holdings (insurance/reinsurance), Nexteco Energy Capital and Crucible Energy Partners (renewable energy tax credit financing), Americas Cash Express (consumer lending), and Steadfast Holdings LLC (family investment vehicle). Early investments include Rumble Inc (NASDAQ: RUM) and Patriot Mobile. He is publisher of American Greatness since 2016 and graduate of Claremont McKenna College.
Center for American Greatness Inc (EIN 81-4984970) is a 501c3 nonprofit at 3107 E Camelback Rd Phoenix AZ with Buskirk as President. 2023 gross receipts 1.845M, total assets 368K. Separate from American Greatness Inc (EIN 45-2338676), a FL nonprofit at 14 Alligator Cove Santa Rosa Beach FL 32459 (formed May 2011). The Center for American Greatness was founded in 2016 coinciding with Trumps first campaign. Buskirk controls both the nonprofit media/policy apparatus (American Greatness) and the investment vehicle (1789 Capital), creating an integrated political-financial platform.
American Greatness Inc. (EIN 45-2338676) was incorporated in FL on May 5, 2011 — 5 years before the blog launched in 2016. Officers: Ryan C Gibson (President), Julie C Gibson (Secretary/Treasurer), Bonnie McQuiston (VP). All at 14 Alligator Cove, Santa Rosa Beach FL 32459. Ryan Gibson is also the registered agent. These three also operate SJ Consulting LLC (formed 2006) from the same address with McQuiston as registered agent. Buskirk is publicly the editor/publisher but appears on ZERO corporate filings. The Gibson-McQuiston trio appears to be a proxy officer cluster — personal associates operating entities on behalf of Buskirk.
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