The U.S. National Party

Established in 2026

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INTRODUCTION

The United States needs a serious third political party. This party needs to be roughly centrist, but slightly to the right.

But it would be wrong to call the U.S. National Party a “conservative” party, because it’s not clear what conservatism is anymore. Some people think it’s Trumpism, and others think it’s Reaganism. The first is chaotic and distasteful to half of the country, while the second is outdated and unsuitable for the world of the 2030s.

Social critic Eric Hoffer once remarked that “Every great cause begins as a movement, becomes a business, and eventually degenerates into a racket.” To many of us, this quote accurately describes our two main political parties. Many people feel politically homeless. Politics has become a battle between tribes, as the Washington Post has observed: “Our political parties have become rigid, unforgiving religious sects… We are a country torn apart by something closer to religious strife, where both sides demand devotion to a doctrine and rough punishments await those who step out of line.”

Instead of passing necessary legislation and enacting important reforms, our legislators seem more like Instagram influencers who are busy promoting themselves and generating social media hits. Their barometer of success is how much attention they receive for every post or soundbite. They call out the corruption and extremism of the other party, but are always tolerant of their own. Some are nothing more than sneaky grifters.

The two parties are also fundraising machines that sell simple policy bundles to the public: Voters who don’t agree with Democrats have to vote Republican and accept every other Republican policy stance, such as tariffs on Canada, higher military spending and a ridiculous grab for Greenland. But voters who disagree with Republicans have to accept every Democrat policy stance, such as a woke agenda, an open border, and tolerance for leftist extremists. One policy choice becomes entangled with all the others. Voting for one policy means voting for all the other ones as well.

Most Americans are moderate and pragmatic. Only about 10 percent of Americans identify as “very liberal” and just 12 percent label themselves “very conservative.” Both groups together make up only 22 percent of the population. But you’d never know it was that small, judging by how each side portrays the other. The views of both are amplified to the point where opinions held by a minority are perceived to be held by the majority. This makes our politics look more extreme than it actually is.

Polling shows that on most issues, there is a broad consensus among Americans, but this sensible center among the populace isn’t being catered to by the two main parties. Voters don’t care about right or left-wing philosophical arguments about the “role of government” or “social justice.” But too often it’s these questions that are focused on, instead of the issues that affect most people’s lives. There’s no meaningful effort to find solutions to practical issues such as high crime rates, the cost of housing and health care, reform of the justice system, or how to improve our kids’ lagging educational achievement.

The so-called “third parties” that have appeared in recent years are even worse. All of them specialize in mindless banalities and vapid waffle, offer no policy specifics and spout shallow slogans, such as “promoting diversity and embracing free markets” and a “human-centered economy” with “modern and effective government.” And of course they all want “an America that looks toward the future.” Every one of them sounds more like a boring cocktail party than a viable political party.

These “third parties” raise political issues, then split the difference to avoid taking a side. But adopting a bunch of mushy, meet-in-the-middle policies is pointless. Nobody wants that. Being completely unable to offer specifics beyond waffly slogans is also something nobody wants.

“Whichever party can just figure out how not to be the crazy party could be the majority party,” says pundit Jonah Goldberg, although becoming a majority party requires more than just a lack of craziness. A successful party needs to appeal to “the persuadable middle,” he says, but it also needs to appeal to disaffected liberals and conservatives.

A real third party makes a convincing case for whichever policies make sense and are not being advocated by existing competitors. A real third party proposes important reforms, coerces the system to confront issues that it prefers to ignore, and shows genuine autonomy and conviction.

The U.S. National Party proposes a unique program of reforms, and presents relevant data and convincing explanations to support its positions. Our party platform covers the 18 most important issues facing the country.

And it offers only one slogan: “America the way you want it.”

• Matt Crezner, Head of the U.S. National Party.