American Principles Project

In 2009, Princeton University legal scholar Robert P. George and political strategist Francis P. Cannon formed APP, originally named American Principles in Action. They aimed to create a grass-roots movement around George's ideas, which included that homosexual sex is morally wrong.{{cite news |last=Kirkpatrick |first=David D. |date=December 20, 2009 |title=The Conservative–Christian Big Thinker |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/20/magazine/20george-t.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200428133951/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/20/magazine/20george-t.html |archive-date=April 28, 2020 |access-date=June 27, 2015 |work=The New York Times}} The APP board includes Maggie Gallagher, an advocate against same-sex marriage.{{Cite web |last=Moody |first=Chris |date=2014-02-07 |title=Rand Paul is pitching libertarian ideas to social conservatives. And they're listening. |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/rand-paul-is-pitching-libertarian-ideas-to-social-conservatives--t-s-working-233556575.html |access-date=2024-08-18 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-US}} In 2010, Jeff Bell became the policy director at APP, alongside Cannon.{{Cite news |last=Ballhaus |first=Rebecca |date=June 4, 2014 |title=Meet Cory Booker's GOP Rival: Jeff Bell |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-WB-46194 |access-date=August 17, 2024 |work=The Wall Street Journal}} Bell established a project to encourage Tea Party movement lawmakers to support a return to the gold standard.{{Cite news |date=2010-11-13 |title=Betting On The Gold Standard? Odds Are Still Long |url=https://www.npr.org/2010/11/13/131297988/gold-standard |access-date=2024-07-26 |work=NPR}}{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Ben |date=2011-06-15 |title=Gold Standard 2012? |url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/ben-smith/2011/06/gold-standard-2012-036711 |access-date=2024-07-26 |work=Politico}} Bell left his APP position in 2014.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2014-08-20 |title=Lonegan gets a new gig with group that employed Cory Booker U.S. Senate foe Jeff Bell: The Auditor |url=https://www.nj.com/politics/2014/08/lonegan_gets_a_new_gig_with_group_that_employed_cory_booker_us_senate_foe_jeff_bell_the_auditor.html |access-date=2024-07-25 |website=NJ.com |language=en}}

In 2011, APP sponsored a Republican presidential primary debate, called the Palmetto Freedom Forum, where panelists Jim DeMint, Steve King, and Robert P. George asked questions.{{Cite web |last=Wenger |first=Yvonne |title=Five top GOP presidential candidates talk specifics at S.C. forum |url=https://www.postandcourier.com/politics/five-top-gop-presidential-candidates-talk-specifics-at-s-c-forum/article_3f34b6f8-7652-55da-9022-af0f49998f69.html |access-date=2023-02-10 |website=Post and Courier |date=4 September 2011 |language=en}} Questions included Tea Party-related topics such as limited government, and candidates discussed upholding the Defense of Marriage Act and repealing other legislation.{{Cite news |last=Gardner |first=Amy |date=2023-05-20 |title=Know your Constitution: A tea party test for GOP field in South Carolina |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/know-your-constitution-a-tea-party-test-for-gop-field-in-south-carolina/2011/09/05/gIQAaxW14J_story.html |access-date=2024-08-17 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}

Following the Republican Party's post-2012 election review, in which the GOP suggested de-emphasizing social issues, APP published a report detailing the importance of social issues to the Republican Party.{{Cite news |last=Glueck |first=Katie |date=2013-10-24 |title=Group says RNC 'wrong' about 2012 |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2013/10/conservative-group-rnc-wrong-about-2012-098766 |access-date=2024-07-24 |work=Politico}} The report pointed out that Republicans ran almost exclusively on economic issues during the 2012 election to lackluster effect.

During the 2016 Republican Party presidential primaries, APP created a pledge to sign the First Amendment Defense Act into law that was supported by the majority of Republican candidates.{{Cite web |last=Salant |first=Jonathan D. |date=2015-12-18 |title=See how Christie differs from Trump and other GOP contenders on gay marriage |url=https://www.nj.com/politics/2015/12/see_how_christie_differs_from_trump_and_other_gop.html |access-date=2024-08-17 |website=NJ.com |language=en}} APP criticized Donald Trump for not being among the first to commit to the pledge,{{Cite news |last=Shain |first=Andrew |date=February 14, 2016 |title=Trump targeted ahead of S.C. debate |url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article60216551.html |access-date=August 19, 2024 |work=Miami Herald}}{{Cite web |last=Fischer |first=Jordan |date=2016-07-14 |title=On key issues, Trump & Pence often disagree |url=https://www.wptv.com/news/national/democracy-2016/so-what-do-trump-pence-agree-on-not-much |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=WPTV News Channel 5 West Palm Beach |language=en}} although he later supported it.

In 2019, APP published a report that said "married and family-oriented voters are a crucial, and likely the most crucial, component of the GOP coalition" and recommended focusing political messaging on parental rights, education, anti-pornography, anti-abortion, anti-commercial surrogacy of babies, the gold standard, pro-family tax policy, and paid parental leave.{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=Kimberly C. |date=2022-10-10 |title=School Board Candidate Backed By Dark Money From National Conservative Group |url=https://www.lkldnow.com/school-board-candidate-backed-by-dark-money-from-national-conservative-group/ |access-date=2024-08-17 |website=LkldNow |language=en-US}} In 2021, APP created a membership program that it called an "NRA for Families."{{Cite web |last=Manchester |first=Julia |date=2021-06-16 |title=Conservative group launches organization billed as 'NRA for families' |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/558373-conservative-group-launches-nra-style-political-membership-group-on-family |access-date=2021-08-18 |website=The Hill |language=en}}

The Advocate has described APP as a right-wing extremist group due to its deceptive campaign advertisements about transgender people,{{Cite web |last=Ring |first=Trudy |date=November 4, 2022 |title=Far-Right Groups Spout Lies About Trans Kids Leading Up to Election |url=https://www.advocate.com/politics/2022/11/03/far-right-groups-spout-lies-about-trans-kids-leading-election#toggle-gdpr |access-date=2024-09-14 |website=The Advocate |language=en}} and the Anti-Defamation League said that APP advocates for "anti-transgender hate".{{Cite web |date=2023-03-06 |title=At CPAC 2023, Anti-Transgender Hate Took Center Stage |url=https://www.adl.org/resources/blog/cpac-2023-anti-transgender-hate-took-center-stage |access-date=2024-09-14 |website=ADL}}

In 2022, APP called itself "Maine Today & Public Insight" to conduct polls in Maine, and it was criticized for using a name that could be confused with existing organizations such as MaineToday Media.{{Cite web |last=Billings |first=Randy |date=2022-07-19 |title=Group using fake name to survey Mainers on culture war issues |url=https://www.pressherald.com/2022/07/19/national-conservative-group-surveys-culture-war-issues-in-maine/ |access-date=2024-08-17 |website=Press Herald}} APP explained that it was using polls to test messaging for campaign ads: "We like to get them into the news cycle. And we like to generate earned media around the ads to get them even more exposure."

APP is a member of the advisory board of Project 2025,{{Cite web |last=Rahman |first=Khaleda |date=2024-07-10 |title=Project 2025: Full list of organizations behind proposals |url=https://www.newsweek.com/project-2025-full-list-organizations-proposals-1923240 |access-date=2024-08-17 |website=Newsweek |language=en}} a collection of conservative and right-wing policy proposals from the Heritage Foundation to reshape the United States federal government and consolidate executive power should the Republican nominee win the 2024 presidential election.{{Cite news |last=Mascaro |first=Lisa |date=August 29, 2023 |title=Conservative Groups Draw Up Plan to Dismantle the US Government and Replace It with Trump's Vision |url=https://apnews.com/article/election-2024-conservatives-trump-heritage-857eb794e505f1c6710eb03fd5b58981 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230922112031/https://apnews.com/article/election-2024-conservatives-trump-heritage-857eb794e505f1c6710eb03fd5b58981 |archive-date=September 22, 2023 |access-date=July 8, 2024 |work=Associated Press News}}

Terry Schilling, president of APP, advised the 2024 Republican National Convention platform committee on social and family issues.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Allan |date=2024-07-16 |title=Project 2025 insiders see Trump's disavowal as 'two siblings in a fight' — not a rejection |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/project-2025-insiders-see-trumps-disavowal-two-siblings-fight-not-reje-rcna161722 |access-date=2024-07-24 |website=NBC News |language=en}}

APP started its super PAC, originally named the Campaign for American Principles,{{Cite web |last=Roarty |first=Alex |date=2016-02-29 |title=Anti-Abortion Groups Aren't Punishing Republican Betrayals |url=https://rollcall.com/2016/02/29/anti-abortion-groups-arent-punishing-republican-betrayals/ |access-date=2024-08-17 |website=Roll Call |language=en-US}} in 2015 after the Obergefell v. Hodges ruling.{{Cite journal |last=Oleske |first=James M. |date=12 Sep 2016 |title=A Regrettable Invitation to 'Constitutional Resistance,' Renewed Confusion Over Religious Exemptions, and the Future of Free Exercise |url=https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2837392 |journal=Lewis & Clark Law Review |pages=1346–1351|ssrn=2837392 }}

APP chairman Sean Fieler, a hedge fund manager, is a major funder of the American Principles Project and has given more than $1.3 million to the APP super PAC. It received $136,000 from billionaire Robert Mercer in 2016.{{Cite news |last=Bump |first=Philip |date=2021-10-23 |title=Analysis {{!}} The amount Robert Mercer spent on politics in 2016 probably topped $30 million |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2018/04/05/the-amount-robert-mercer-spent-on-politics-in-2016-likely-topped-30-million/ |access-date=2024-08-17 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}} The PAC received $3.2 million from Richard and Elizabeth Uihlein between 2020 and 2022.{{Cite web |last=Atterbury |first=Andrew |date=2022-09-19 |title=National conservative groups pour money into local school board races |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/09/19/conservative-school-board-fundraising-florida-00057325 |access-date=2023-02-10 |website=Politico |language=en}} Thomas Klingenstein, chairman of the Claremont Institute, contributed $500,000 to the PAC in 2020.{{Cite news |last=Wilson |first=Jason |date=2023-08-04 |title=The far-right financier giving millions to the Republican party to fight 'woke communists' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/aug/04/far-right-republican-donor-woke-thomas-klingenstein |access-date=2024-07-24 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} In the second half of 2023 the PAC received $2.3 million in funding, including $2.1 million from Restoration PAC, which is mostly funded by the Uihleins.{{Cite web |last=Loftus |first=Tom |date=2024-02-02 |title=Pair of billionaires bankrolled super PACs that spent $10 million trying to defeat Beshear |url=https://kentuckylantern.com/2024/02/02/pair-of-billionaires-bankrolled-super-pacs-that-spent-10-million-trying-to-defeat-beshear/ |access-date=2024-07-24 |website=Kentucky Lantern |language=en-US}}

In 2020, the APP PAC spread disinformation that falsely claimed Joe Biden endorsed "sex change treatments" for children between age 8 and 10 years old.{{Cite news |last=Metz |first=Cade |date=2020-10-28 |title=Disinformation Moves From Social Networks to Texts |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/28/technology/disinformation-moves-from-social-networks-to-texts.html |access-date=2024-07-24 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite news |last=Schmidt |first=Samantha |date=2020-10-29 |title=A mother told Biden about her transgender 8-year-old child. Then came the attacks. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2020/10/29/mother-told-biden-about-her-transgender-8-year-old-child-then-came-attacks/ |access-date=2024-07-24 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}} In 2022, the PAC spent $25,000 on commercials for a school board election in Polk County, Florida,{{Cite web |last1=Binkley |first1=Collin |last2=Carr Smyth |first2=Julie |date=2022-10-11 |title=Conservative PACs inject millions into local school races |url=https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-elections-education-school-boards-teaching-059f2465829ab009394469b95c8cc94a |access-date=2023-02-10 |website=AP NEWS |language=en}} supporting candidates that were running on a parental rights platform.{{Cite web |last1=Mansfield |first1=Erin |last2=Jimenez |first2=Kayla |date=2022-10-23 |title=These PACS are funding 'parents' rights advocates' running for local school board positions |url=https://tangent.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/politics/2022/10/23/super-pacs-spending-local-school-board-races/8125668001/ |access-date=2024-07-25 |website=USA Today |language=en-us}} The commercials said that Democrats are "teaching trans ideology and anti-American critical race theory", but representatives for Polk County schools said those claims were false. APP does not have local connections to Florida, but it wanted to use the school board election as a test case for other campaigns.

In 2023, the APP PAC spent at least $796,000 on advertising in support of Daniel Kelly in the 2023 Wisconsin Supreme Court election, including ads with false information about school district policies regarding transgender youth.{{Cite news |last=Herman |first=Alice |date=2023-03-14 |title=Election-denying donors pour millions into key Wisconsin supreme court race |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/mar/14/wisconsin-supreme-court-election-funding-donors-election-deniers |access-date=2024-07-24 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite web |last=Petrovic |first=Phoebe |date=2023-04-02 |title=Ads for Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Daniel Kelly peddle anti-trans fear, false info |url=https://pbswisconsin.org/news-item/ads-for-wisconsin-supreme-court-candidate-daniel-kelly-peddle-anti-trans-fear-false-info/ |access-date=2024-07-24 |website=PBS Wisconsin |language=en-US}} Kelly lost that election to Janet Protasiewicz.{{Cite news |last=Parks |first=Casey |date=2023-06-17 |title=LGBTQ+ Americans have stronger support than ever — and fiercer backlash |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/06/14/lgbtq-rights-state-legislative-attacks/ |access-date=2024-08-20 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}} In 2023 the PAC also funded an attack ad against Kentucky governor Andy Beshear that said re-electing him would lead to the government removing trans children from families if parents asked them questions, which was not part of his platform.{{Cite news |last=Acquisto |first=Alex |date=October 17, 2023 |title=Anti-Beshear PAC ad falsely claims Democrats will abduct kids over gender identity |url=https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article280607389.html |access-date=August 19, 2024 |work=Lexington Herald-Leader}} Additional APP ads made other false claims about transgender youth and health care in Kentucky.{{Cite news |last=Acquisto |first=Alex |date=November 6, 2023 |title=Wave of PAC ads targeting transgender community texted to potential KY voters |url=https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article281460393.html |access-date=August 19, 2024 |work=Lexington Herald-Ledger}} APP spent $1.7 million to oppose Beshear, who won the election.{{Cite web |last=Loftus |first=Tom |date=2024-02-02 |title=Pair of billionaires bankrolled super PACs that spent $10 million trying to defeat Beshear • Kentucky Lantern |url=https://kentuckylantern.com/2024/02/02/pair-of-billionaires-bankrolled-super-pacs-that-spent-10-million-trying-to-defeat-beshear/ |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=Kentucky Lantern |language=en-US}}

The APP PAC has worked with the Logan Circle Group to produce advertisements.

APP is anti-abortion.{{Cite web |last=Hanna |first=John |date=2022-06-24 |title=After Supreme Court abortion decision, some fear rollback of LGBTQ and other rights |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/after-supreme-court-abortion-decision-some-fear-rollback-of-lgbtq-and-other-rights |access-date=2023-02-10 |website=PBS NewsHour |language=en-us |agency=Associated Press}} In 2009, APP cofounder George explained his position that abortion is a moral crime. In 2023, APP policy director Jon Schweppe recommended that politicians pursue a federal ban on abortion with exceptions popular with voters, including rape, incest, or if the health or life of the mother is at risk.{{Cite news |last=Gambino |first=Lauren |date=2023-04-15 |title='They created this': are Republicans willing to lose elections to retain their abortion stance? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/apr/15/abortion-republicans-election-supreme-court |access-date=2024-07-27 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} APP president Schilling also called for "A 15-week law that allow[s] exceptions for rape, incest and life of the mother. That’s harder for the other side to take down."{{Cite news |last=Ollstein |first=Alice Miranda |date=2023-08-10 |title=Staggering Ohio loss ignites an identity crisis within the anti-abortion movement |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2023/08/10/anti-abortion-movement-defeat-ohio-00110543 |access-date=2024-07-24 |work=Politico}}

APP has conducted focus groups to evaluate how to effectively criticize the concept of diversity programs as part of election campaigns for conservative candidates, such as evaluating whether the terms "woke" and "DEI" received positive or negative responses.{{Cite news |last=Confessore |first=Nicholas |date=2024-01-20 |title='America Is Under Attack': Inside the Anti-D.E.I. Crusade |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/01/20/us/dei-woke-claremont-institute.html |access-date=2024-07-25 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}

The American Principles Project has been critical of Common Core standards.{{cite news |date=3 December 2013 |title=Common Core motives, costs being questioned |url=http://www.thonline.com/news/national_world/article_00e64226-7eb1-58a2-b67f-d7cbe88cf512.html |work=Telegraph Herald |agency=Associated Press}} In 2012, Jane Robbins, Senior Fellow at the American Principles Project, and Emmett McGroarty, executive director of APP Education, co-authored a report for the APP and the Pioneer Institute called Controlling Education From The Top: Why Common Core Is Bad For America.{{cite news|last1=Brown|first1=Emma|title=La. Gov. Bobby Jindal rails against Common Core State Standards|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/la-gov-bobby-jindal-rails-against-common-core-state-standards/2015/02/05/456e2eda-acb0-11e4-9c91-e9d2f9fde644_story.html|accessdate=5 March 2015|newspaper=Washington Post|date=February 5, 2015}} APP staff members have testified before state legislatures, encouraging states to withdraw from the Common Core standards.{{cite news |title=WV Against Common Core to host second town hall forum |url=http://www.statejournal.com/story/26783916/second-town-hall-forum-planned-to-discuss-common-core |work=The State Journal |date=14 October 2014 |access-date=2 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141023043647/http://www.statejournal.com/story/26783916/second-town-hall-forum-planned-to-discuss-common-core |archive-date=23 October 2014 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }} APP argued that the Republican Party would suffer in the 2016 presidential election if it fielded a pro-Common Core candidate.{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=Emma |date=2023-04-09 |title=La. Gov. Bobby Jindal rails against Common Core State Standards |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/la-gov-bobby-jindal-rails-against-common-core-state-standards/2015/02/05/456e2eda-acb0-11e4-9c91-e9d2f9fde644_story.html |access-date=2024-08-17 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}} APP president Cannon criticized Trump's appointment of Betsy DeVos as United States secretary of education in 2016 because they did not think she was sufficiently opposed to Common Core.{{Cite news |last=Bakeman |first=Jessica |date=November 23, 2016 |title=New U.S. education secretary has ties to Florida voucher fight |url=https://www.politico.com/states/florida/story/2016/11/new-us-education-secretary-has-ties-to-florida-voucher-fight-107601 |access-date=August 19, 2024 |work=Politico}}

APP chairman Sean Fieler told Politico in 2014 that he had instructed the American Principles Project to invest $500,000 in organizing the opposition to the Common Core education standards as part of his organization's "long-standing drive for school choice."{{cite news |last1=Simon |first1=Stephanie |date=January 7, 2014 |title=For right, Common Core just the start |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2014/01/common-core-conservatives-education-101796 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230815213611/https://www.politico.com/story/2014/01/common-core-conservatives-education-101796 |archive-date=August 15, 2023 |access-date=August 15, 2023 |work=Politico}}

{{further|2020s anti-LGBT movement in the United States}}

APP aims to change societal attitudes toward gay and transgender rights.{{Cite news |last=Kindy |first=Kimberly |date=2023-04-29 |title=Historic surge in bills targeting transgender rights pass at record speed |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/04/17/gop-state-legislatures-lgbtq-rights/ |access-date=2024-07-24 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}} APP has funded political campaign ads that reflect the organization's opposition to civil rights protections for LGBTQ people.{{Cite news |last=Gabriel |first=Trip |date=2022-07-22 |title=After Roe, Republicans Sharpen Attacks on Gay and Transgender Rights |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/22/us/politics/after-roe-republicans-sharpen-attacks-on-gay-and-transgender-rights.html |access-date=2023-02-10 |issn=0362-4331}} APP has opposed same-sex marriage and supported restrictions on transgender youth.{{Cite web |last=Murray |first=Sara |date=2022-04-22 |title=Republicans build momentum as they drive anti-LGBTQ legislation nationwide |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/22/politics/republicans-anti-lgbtq-legislation/index.html |access-date=2023-02-10 |website=CNN |language=en}} APP has said that its longterm goal is to eliminate transgender healthcare in its entirety.{{Cite news |last1=Astor |first1=Maggie |date=January 25, 2023 |title=G.O.P. State Lawmakers Push a Growing Wave of Anti-Transgender Bills |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/25/us/politics/transgender-laws-republicans.html |work=The New York Times}} It has opposed allowing parents to approve gender-affirming healthcare for their children, such as puberty blocking medication.{{Cite web |last=Spencer |first=Susan |date=2023-06-18 |title="We're gonna have to live in fear": The fight over medical care for transgender youth - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fight-over-medical-care-for-transgender-youth-gender-dysphoria/ |access-date=2024-09-11 |website=CBS News |language=en-US}}

APP declined to attend the annual Conservative Political Action Conference in 2011 in protest of the conference including a gay conservative group, GOProud, saying that the group was "working against one of the most basic tenets of conservatism".{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=February 2, 2011 |title=CPAC Conference Tangled in Controversy Over Gay Conservative Group |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/cpac-conference-tangled-controversy-gay-conservative-group/story?id=12821874 |access-date=2024-08-17 |website=ABC News |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Tau |first=Byron |date=2010-11-16 |title=CPAC under fire over gay conservative group |url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/ben-smith/2010/11/cpac-under-fire-over-gay-conservative-group-030865 |access-date=August 17, 2024 |work=Politico}}

In the 2017 Virginia elections, the American Principles Project ran anti-transgender robocalls in the district of Democratic candidate Danica Roem, a former journalist who is a transgender woman.{{Cite news |last=Olivo |first=Antonio |date=2023-04-09 |title=Conservative groups take aim at Va. Democrat's transgender identity |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/conservative-groups-take-aim-at-va-democrats-transgender-identity/2017/10/10/cf456632-add9-11e7-a908-a3470754bbb9_story.html |access-date=2024-08-17 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}

In 2019, APP conducted research on how to raise voter concern about transgender rights in order to build support for conservative candidates, and it decided to emphasize messaging about transgender children in sports competitions.{{Cite news |last=Peters |first=Jeremy W. |date=2019-11-04 |title=A Conservative Push to Make Trans Kids and School Sports the Next Battleground in the Culture War |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/03/us/politics/kentucky-transgender-school-sports.html |access-date=2024-07-24 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} APP President Cannon said their polls showed that bathroom bills were less likely to motivate people to vote than potential unfairness in sports. APP has also said that it used the topic of women's sports as a way to get "opponents of the LGBT movement comfortable with talking about transgender issues".

In 2020, APP president Schilling was criticized for posting disparaging comments about gay and transgender people on Twitter.

In 2022 the American Principles PAC funded political advertisements in six states with claims about Democratic candidates, such as that they were "pushing dangerous transgender drugs and surgeries on kids" and "would destroy girls’ sports".{{Cite web |last=Lavietes |first=Matt |date=2022-11-05 |title=As election nears, some conservative groups have ramped up anti-trans campaign ads |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-politics-and-policy/election-nears-conservative-groups-ramped-anti-trans-campaign-ads-rcna55697 |access-date=2024-07-24 |website=NBC News |language=en}} The APP PAC spent close to $16 million in the 2022 midterm elections on anti-trans campaign ads,{{Cite web |last=Raman |first=Sandhya |date=2023-02-19 |title=Conservatives use abortion strategies in fight over transgender care |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/government-politics/conservatives-use-abortion-strategies-in-fight-over-transgender-care/article_eb774396-0595-5112-b3ac-d591c71feda5.html |access-date=2024-07-25 |website=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |language=en}} although the Republican candidates lost many of those elections.{{Cite news |last=Astor |first=Maggie |date=2022-12-10 |title=Transgender Americans Feel Under Siege as Political Vitriol Rises |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/10/us/politics/anti-transgender-lgbtq-threats-attacks.html |access-date=2024-07-25 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}

In February 2023, the group's president, Terry Schilling, told CNN that they oppose gender-affirming care for all Americans, regardless of age and that they are working with states to introduce and pass bans on it for all ages, but are starting with bans for children since "that's where the vast majority of the American people are right now."{{cite news | url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/11/politics/gender-affirming-care-bans-transgender-rights/index.html | title=GOP lawmakers escalate fight against gender-affirming care with bills seeking to expand the scope of bans | first=Devan | last=Cole | website=CNN | date= February 11, 2023 | access-date= February 12, 2023}} As of April 2023, 24 of 31 ads on the APP YouTube channel were about LGBTQ topics. APP has said that focusing on transgender youth has prompted thousands of new donors to contribute to its organization. Other Republican leaders have opposed efforts to focus on transgender youth over other issues.

Alfonso Aguilar, APP's Director of Hispanic Engagement, has spoken in favor of birthright citizenship{{Cite web |date=2016-11-29 |title=Latino conservatives: If Donald Trump is the nominee, we will not work to elect him |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/latino-conservatives-if-donald-trump-is-the-nominee-we-will-not-work-to-elect-him |access-date=2024-07-24 |website=Fox News |language=en-US}} and against use of the term "anchor baby".{{Cite web |last=Gamboa |first=Suzanne |date=2015-08-20 |title=Latinos Outraged By 'Anchor Baby' Term, See It As Offensive |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/latinos-outraged-anchor-baby-term-see-it-offensive-n413391 |access-date=2024-07-24 |website=NBC News |language=en}} He has supported immigration reform, including a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants.{{Cite news |last=Thompson |first=Krissah |date=2023-05-19 |title=Latino Voice Alfonso Aguilar also conservative voice for immigration reform |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/latino-voice-alfonso-aguilar-also-conservative-voice-for-immigration-reform/2012/12/05/0ee46840-3a37-11e2-a263-f0ebffed2f15_story.html |access-date=2024-08-17 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}} In 2015, Aguilar opposed Trump's platforms on legal and illegal immigration,{{Cite news |last1=Gabriel |first1=Trip |last2=Preston |first2=Julia |date=2015-08-18 |title=Donald Trump Paints Republicans Into Corner With Hispanics |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/19/us/politics/with-tough-immigration-talk-gop-again-risks-losing-latinos.html |access-date=2024-07-24 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} and said Trump's derogatory comments about Mexican immigrants were "ludicrous, baseless and insulting",{{Cite web |last=Peoples |first=Steve |date=2015-07-03 |title=Hispanic leaders say the Republican Party must condemn Trump |url=https://www.pressherald.com/2015/07/03/hispanic-leaders-say-the-republican-party-must-condemn-trump/ |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=Press Herald}} but endorsed Trump in 2016.{{Cite news |last=Preston |first=Julia |date=2016-07-22 |title=For Trump, an America That Is Not a Nation of Nations |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/23/us/politics/donald-trump-immigration.html |access-date=2024-07-25 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}

The American Principles Project has been critical of Federal Reserve System monetary policy and advocated for monetary reform by suggesting a return to the gold standard.{{Cite web |last=Eichengreen |first=Barry |date=2011-08-24 |title=A Critique of Pure Gold |url=https://nationalinterest.org/article/critique-pure-gold-5741 |access-date=2024-07-27 |website=The National Interest |language=en}} Jeff Bell, APP policy director, went on a bus tour around Iowa in 2011 to give speeches about the gold standard ahead of the 2012 Iowa Republican presidential caucuses.{{Cite web |last=Goodell |first=Andy |date=2011-06-30 |title=Bus tour focused on 'gold standard,' education |url=https://www.oskaloosa.com/news/local_news/bus-tour-focused-on-gold-standard-education/article_da34242d-702b-58ba-b1d3-9e9dc5bbea53.html |access-date=2024-08-17 |website=Oskaloosa Herald |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Greenwood |first=John |date=July 8, 2011 |title=Money gone rogue |url=https://financialpost.com/news/economy/money-gone-rogue |access-date=August 16, 2024 |work=Financial Post}} A columnist at the National Catholic Reporter described APP's advocacy for the gold standard as "crazy".{{Cite web |last=Winters |first=Michael Sean |author-link=Michael Sean Winters |date=June 16, 2011 |title=APP Wants Gold Standard Back |url=https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/distinctly-catholic/app-wants-gold-standard-back |access-date=2024-08-17 |website=National Catholic Reporter |language=en}}

In March 2015, Steve Lonegan, Director of Monetary Policy at APP, met with Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen along with other conservative activists to discuss interest rate policies and related topics.{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=M. J. |date=2015-02-27 |title=Janet Yellen meets with conservatives |url=https://www.cnn.com/2015/02/27/politics/janet-yellen-meeting-conservatives/index.html |access-date=2024-08-17 |website=CNN |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Crutsinger |first=Martin |date=March 1, 2015 |title=Yellen has meeting with groups unhappy with Fed |url=https://www.record-courier.com/story/news/2015/03/01/yellen-has-meeting-with-groups/19826302007/ |access-date=2024-08-17 |website=Record-Courier |language=en-US |agency=Associated Press}}

The American Principles Project organized a conference on economic policy held in August 2015 in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, to advocate for hard money monetary policies and an end to government involvement in the money supply.{{Cite news |last=Mui |first=Ylan Q. |date=August 11, 2015 |title=This is how protesters plan to take on the Federal Reserve |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/08/11/this-is-how-protesters-plan-to-take-on-the-federal-reserve/ |access-date=August 16, 2024 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}{{Cite news |last=Liberto |first=Jennifer |date=2015-08-28 |title=Activists jolt the Fed's mountain getaway |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2015/08/the-fed-jackson-hole-retreat-activists-interrupt-213154 |access-date=August 16, 2024 |work=Politico}} According to associates of hedge fund CEO Robert Mercer interviewed by Bloomberg, Mercer was the main financial backer of the Jackson Hole Summit.{{cite news |last1=Mider |first1=Zachary |date=20 January 2016 |title=What Kind of Man Spends Millions to Elect Ted Cruz? |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/features/2016-01-20/what-kind-of-man-spends-millions-to-elect-ted-cruz- |accessdate=28 January 2016 |agency=Bloomberg}}

{{See also|Legality of pornography in the United States|Anti-pornography movement in the United States}}

APP has argued for establishing laws that would limit access to pornographic websites, as a way to change the cultural acceptability of pornography.{{Cite web |last=Coaston |first=Jane |date=2019-12-12 |title=There's a conservative civil war raging — over porn |url=https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/12/12/21003109/pornography-obscenity-barr-doj-conservatives-libertarians |access-date=2024-07-27 |website=Vox |language=en-US}} It has lobbied for state and federal laws requiring age verification systems for pornographic websites, including the Kids Online Safety Act.{{Cite web |last=Germain |first=Thomas |date=2024-07-24 |title=How the American war on porn could change the way you use the internet |url=https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20240723-how-the-american-war-on-porn-could-change-your-internet |access-date=2024-07-25 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}}

{{See also|Big Tech#Accusations of censorship and election interference}}

In 2021, APP's policy director Jon Schweppe said that Big Tech companies have interfered in elections and censored conservatives, such as by removing ads, although Facebook and Google have denied that they censored conservative viewpoints.{{Cite news |last=Hart |first=Kim |date=2021-06-07 |title=Scoop: Conservatives sound alarm against taking Big Tech money |url=https://www.axios.com/2021/06/07/conservatives-alarm-big-tech-money |access-date=2024-07-26 |work=Axios}} In 2020, Facebook rejected an APP PAC ad because PolitiFact said the ad was potentially misleading.{{Cite web |last=Bauer |first=Sydney |date=2020-09-16 |title=Facebook axes political ad saying trans athletes will 'destroy girls sports' |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/facebook-axes-political-ad-saying-trans-athletes-will-destroy-girls-n1240262 |access-date=2024-08-17 |website=NBC News |language=en}} In 2019, William Upton, who had led the APP PAC, said he did not think that there was systemic bias in the tech industry against conservatives.{{Cite news |last=Captain |first=Sean |date=2019-07-10 |title=Even conservatives balk at Trump's claim of "anti-conservative bias" in tech |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90373754/some-conservatives-blast-trumps-anti-conservative-bias-social-media-summit |access-date=August 16, 2024 |work=Fast Company}}

APP has worked with the American Economic Liberties Project and progressive activist groups such as Demand Progress on antitrust legislation efforts.{{Cite news |last=Birnbaum |first=Emily |date=2022-04-13 |title=Behind closed doors, progressives fighting 'Big Tech' work with anti-trans group |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/04/13/progressives-antitrust-activists-split-anti-lgbtq-00024799 |access-date=2024-07-26 |work=Politico}} In 2021, APP made a website and browser extension that provided information about nonprofits, think tanks, and academic institutions that take funding from Facebook, Google, Amazon, or Apple.{{Cite news |last=Hendel |first=John |date=2021-07-19 |title=Could the White House's misinfo crackdown misfire? |url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/morning-tech/2021/07/19/could-the-white-houses-misinfo-crackdown-misfire-796575 |access-date=2024-07-26 |work=Politico}} The intent was to provide transparency about organizations participating in lobbying about antitrust bills.

APP lobbied for the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act.{{Cite news |last=Oprysko |first=Caitlin |date=April 24, 2024 |title=Who else lobbied on the TikTok bill |url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/politico-influence/2024/04/24/who-else-lobbied-on-the-tiktok-bill-00154210 |access-date=August 17, 2024 |work=Politico}}

{{See also|Republican efforts to restrict voting following the 2020 presidential election}}

APP has worked with Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America against voting rights legislation.{{Cite news |last1=Glenza |first1=Jessica |last2=Levine |first2=Sam |date=2021-04-09 |title=US anti-abortion groups shift focus to voting restrictions |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/apr/09/us-voting-restrictions-conservative-groups-lobbying-against-abortion |access-date=2023-02-10 |issn=0261-3077}} APP supported stricter voting laws, including requiring signature verification for absentee ballots, in order to retain donors to APP who were concerned about voter fraud.{{Cite news |last=Peters |first=Jeremy W. |date=2021-03-19 |title=In Restricting Early Voting, the Right Sees a New 'Center of Gravity' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/19/us/politics/republicans-trump-voting-rights.html |access-date=2024-07-25 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} In 2021, the APP PAC contributed $280,000 to Restoration PAC, which ran inaccurate commercials about the For the People Act.{{Cite web |last=DiStaso |first=John |date=2021-04-02 |title=In new ad campaign, dark-money group calls for Hassan, Shaheen to oppose federal voting bill |url=https://www.wmur.com/article/in-new-ad-campaign-dark-money-group-calls-for-hassan-shaheen-to-oppose-federal-voting-bill/36017495 |access-date=2023-02-10 |website=WMUR |language=en}} APP's voting-related work was criticized by some Catholic organizations.{{Cite web |last=White |first=Christopher |date=2021-04-08 |title=Major Catholic funders and power brokers spearhead voter suppression efforts |url=https://www.ncronline.org/news/major-catholic-funders-and-power-brokers-spearhead-voter-suppression-efforts,%20https://www.ncronline.org/news/major-catholic-funders-and-power-brokers-spearhead-voter-suppression-efforts |access-date=2024-07-27 |website=National Catholic Reporter |language=en}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{official website|https://americanprinciplesproject.org}}
• {{ProPublicaNonprofitExplorer|264613397|American Principles Project 501(c)(4)}}
• {{ProPublicaNonprofitExplorer|264442148|American Principles Project Foundation 501(c)(3)}}

{{American social conservatism}}

Category:2020s anti-LGBTQ movement in the United States

Category:Conservative political advocacy groups in the United States

Category:Far-right organizations in the United States

Category:Non-profit organizations based in Washington, D.C.

Category:Organizations that oppose transgender rights in the United States

Category:Organizations that oppose LGBTQ rights in the United States