patriots

Many in the LegCo are known to be pro-Beijing since China passed a law that only "patriots" can be part of the legislature, while the Hong Kong government's chief executive is essentially hand-picked by Beijing.

“The president has been incredibly, in my view, disrespectful to these patriots. He’s treated them as political pawns.”

Being “real Americans” and “patriots” is central to both of their brands and popularity.

Militia groups that promote “FEMA camps” conspiracies will often spin yarns about how “urban gangs” will be recruited to round up “patriots” — their code word for white conservative Christians — into camps.

"The public think a lot of these patriots are 'verbal revolutionaries' or political opportunists - they don't really represent the people," he says.