4Sep, 2025
America First: A Path Toward Handmaid’s Tale Politics?

Women’s Rights Under Threat

When people hear “America First,” they often think of strong borders, patriotic slogans, or economic protectionism. But beneath that surface lies a much more dangerous current—one that threatens women’s autonomy. Framed under “pro-family” or “traditional values” slogans, the real goal is often to roll back reproductive rights, restrict access to healthcare, and send the message that a woman’s place is at home, raising children. This narrow vision erases a woman’s identity beyond motherhood. Many see echoes of The Handmaid’s Tale—a chilling dystopia where women lose control over their own lives, all for the sake of order and tradition.

Where “America First” Began

The slogan “America First” traces back to the 1940s, when the America First Committee, led by aviator Charles Lindbergh, urged isolationism and opposed U.S. entry into World War II. But Lindbergh’s remarks blaming Jewish influence for encouraging war stained the movement with antisemitism—a dangerous precedent, showing how even patriotic ideals can slip into bigotry.

America First in Modern Politics

Donald Trump brought “America First” back in 2016, using it to push policies prioritizing U.S. interests—immigration restrictions, tariffs, reduced global engagement, and expanded national security enforcement. The America First Policy Institute continues promoting these ideas under the pretext of defending families, jobs, and sovereignty. But reading between the lines reveals a deeper, more troubling aim.

Stephen Miller—America First’s Architect

The White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Stephen Miller is one of the key architects of this movement:

  1. America First Legal (AFL): Miller founded and leads America First Legal, a hardline group backing legal battles over immigration, anti-LGBTQ, and educational issues. It served as an adviser to Project 2025, a blueprint to reshape government power. Miller later asked to remove AFL’s name amid public scrutiny.
  2. Project 2025 & Heritage Network:
    • Center for Renewing America (CRA), founded by Russell Vought, appears on Project 2025’s advisory board—promoting a Christian nationalist mission to reorganize government around “God, country, and community.”
    • Project 2025 calls for consolidating executive power, dismantling civil service protections, and reversing reproductive and healthcare gains while embedding Christian values into federal policy.
  3. Policy Powerhouse: Miller serves as Trump’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Homeland Security Adviser—driving hardline immigration reforms, agency purges, and sweeping executive power grabs.
  4. On Women’s Issues—A Stark Record:
    Miller once wrote that women earn less because they choose low-paying, low-risk jobs and don’t work as many hours as men. He stated: “In modern-day America, there is a place for gender roles. I simply wouldn’t feel comfortable hiring a full-time male babysitter…”
    He argued against paid maternity leave, calling it a burden on businesses. This is the man advising on family policy.
  5. Education & Gender Identity:
    Miller recently said schools must teach children to “love America” to receive federal funds and attacked gender identity education as “communist, woke culture.” He went as far as calling gender-affirming care for minors “child abuse.” This aligns tightly with Christian nationalist social norms.

Behind the Movement—Key Allies

Stephen Miller isn’t alone. Others deeply embedded in the conservative infrastructure include:

  • Russell Vought, founder of CRA, pushing Christian nationalist visions through Project 2025 and other conservative networks.
  • Conservative Partnership Institute (CPI), founded by Jim DeMint, serves as a hub connecting figures like Miller, Vought, and other hardline allies preparing for the next administration—readying staffing and policy shifts that echo “America First” with religious overtones.
  • Project 2025 Contributors: Include far-right figures like Ben Carson, Ken Cuccinelli, Peter Navarro, who have played major roles in Trump’s past administrations.

Candidates Running on America First – CA & IA

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This isn’t just ideology—it’s shaping real campaigns:

  • Iowa: Representative Ashley Hinson is running for Senate, pledging to be Trump’s “top ally” and carry forward the America First agenda. Her House seat now opens to successors aligned with this platform.
  • California: Sheriff Chad Bianco is vying for governor in 2026, backed by conservative voters drawn to America First values. While trailing in polls, his candidacy shows how widespread this ideology is becoming.

Reading in Between the Lines

On the surface, America First claims to defend families and sovereignty. But its policies push Christian nationalist ideals by:

  • Restricting women’s rights and autonomy.
  • Minimizing LGBTQ and religious freedoms.
  • Narrowing definitions of American identity to favor one religion.
  • Expanding executive power at the expense of democratic checks and balances.

Our Constitution promises religious freedom—not governance by any single religious viewpoint. America First blurs that line, edging us toward authoritarianism.

Margaret Atwood once warned that The Handmaid’s Tale was a dystopian story based on germinating truths. If we continue down this path—disempowering women, excluding minority voices, and eroding democratic institutions—Atwood’s vision may come alive.

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