Who Are The Oath Keepers?

So, let’s break it down—who exactly are the Oath Keepers, and why does everyone from the FBI to local communities think they’re a serious threat?

The Oath Keepers are basically a militia group made up of a lot of ex-military and police. They say their main goal is to defend the Constitution, but in reality, they’ve been involved in some pretty extreme and dangerous stuff, especially when it comes to turning against the government. They’ve shown up at protests with guns, pushed conspiracy theories, and even helped storm the U.S. Capitol. Yeah, they’re that kind of group.


The group was started in 2009 by a guy named Stewart Rhodes, who used to be in the Army and even graduated from Yale Law School. He created the Oath Keepers during the Obama years because he thought the federal government was becoming too powerful and corrupt. His whole pitch was that cops and soldiers should refuse to follow orders they think are unconstitutional. Sounds patriotic on the surface, but in practice, it’s led to some scary anti-government stuff.


These guys believe in all kinds of wild conspiracies about martial law, government takeovers, gun confiscations—you name it. And they don’t just talk about it online. They show up in real life, heavily armed, acting like they’re getting ready for a civil war.


A lot of these guys are ex-soldiers or former cops. They dress in full tactical gear, carry serious weapons, and actually train for combat situations. They’re not just waving signs—they’re preparing for violence.


When Trump lost the 2020 election, the Oath Keepers totally bought into the lie that it was stolen. On January 6, 2021, they were part of the mob that stormed the Capitol. Some even moved in a military-style line and had radios and plans. Their founder, Stewart Rhodes, was convicted of seditious conspiracy, which is a fancy way of saying he tried to help overthrow the U.S. government.


They’ve shown up at polling places with guns, followed politicians, and tried to scare people into silence. They’ve even said they’d back up Trump if he tried to stay in power by force. That’s not democracy—it’s intimidation.


So here’s where things get even messier. Trump never officially said he supports the Oath Keepers, but a lot of them saw him as their leader anyway. They were completely loyal to him, and many of them believed he’d call on them to stop the so-called “rigged” election. On January 6, Stewart Rhodes literally said they were waiting for Trump’s orders to take action. He hoped Trump would use the military to stay in power by declaring martial law.


And even though Trump didn’t directly tell them what to do, his speeches and refusal to stop the riot gave them the green light. Then in 2025, when Trump got back into office, he started pardoning people, and some of those pardons reportedly included Oath Keepers who had been convicted for the Capitol attack. That sent a strong message: they weren’t just forgiven—they were welcome back.


The Oath Keepers are one of the most dangerous extremist groups in America today. They hide behind the Constitution but act like vigilantes, using guns, threats, and violence to push their political agenda. They’re deeply anti-government, fiercely loyal to Trump, and willing to go to extremes to get what they want. And with Trump back in power, giving them second chances, they’re feeling more emboldened than ever.


Bibliography


Southern Poverty Law Center. “Oath Keepers.” SPLC, www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/group/oath-keepers. Accessed 11 June 2025.


Feuer, Alan. “Stewart Rhodes Convicted of Seditious Conspiracy.” The New York Times, 29 Nov. 2022, www.nytimes.com/2022/11/29/us/stewart-rhodes-seditious-conspiracy.html.


Anti-Defamation League. “Oath Keepers: Background and Tactics.” ADL.org, www.adl.org/resources/backgrounder/oath-keepers. Accessed 11 June 2025.


Johnson, Carrie. “Oath Keepers' Role in Capitol Riot Was ‘Military-Style Assault,’ DOJ Says.” NPR, 27 Jan. 2021, www.npr.org/2021/01/27/oath-keepers-capitol-riot.


Fang, Marina. “Trump Pardons Proud Boys and Oath Keepers.” The Guardian, 20 Jan. 2025, www.theguardian.com.

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