A self-described 'MAGA fertility fanatic' and author has ignited a fierce internal debate within the American conservative movement after making sweeping claims about immigrants' motivations for moving to the United States.
The Controversial Claim
On Sunday, 29 December 2025, commentator Peachy Keenan – who writes under a pseudonym and advocates for 'wife supremacy' and large families – took to social media to assert her view. She insisted she had 'never met a single immigrant, legal or illegal,' who moved to America out of a desire for freedoms like free speech, individual liberty, or representational democracy. Instead, she claimed, 'They move here for the money, bro. Even the ones on my side!'
In follow-up posts, Keenan elaborated, describing America not as an 'idea' but as an 'ATM machine for immigrants.' She defined a 'true' American as someone indigenous to the country for several generations, whose ancestors 'farmed it, built it, fought for it, and died for it.'
A Torrent of Conservative Criticism
Despite the anti-immigration sentiment often associated with the Trump wing of the Republican party, Keenan's remarks were swiftly condemned by numerous prominent right-wing voices. They highlighted personal stories that directly contradicted her generalisation.
Jeff Blehar, a writer for National Review, pointed to Baha'i friends who fled Iran's theocratic regime. Charles C. W. Cooke, a senior writer at National Review Online who emigrated from England, simply replied 'Hi', a pointed reference to his own journey.
Radio host Erick Erickson cited his Swedish grandfather and an Indian neighbour who sought freedom from the caste system, urging Keenan to 'get out more and meet people.' Columnist Gabriella Hoffman shared her parents' story, stating they came to the U.S. forty years ago to escape Russian occupation and enjoy constitutional rights.
Blunt Rebukes and a Partial Walk-Back
The criticism was particularly scathing from some quarters. Commentary editor John Podhoretz did not mince words, calling Keenan's tweet 'blazingly stupid' and suggesting it failed to understand why America works. 'Tell me you’re an idiot any more competently than this... and I’ll give you a cookie,' he wrote.
Faced with this backlash, Keenan attempted to clarify her position. When challenged by an Iranian user, she stated she wasn't 'saying there are none' and acknowledged that mid-20th century migration was often driven by fleeing tyranny, but maintained she hadn't personally met many such individuals. By Monday morning, she added a significant qualifier to her original statement, posting '*Under age 60.'
The episode underscores the ongoing and complex debate within conservatism about immigration, national identity, and the reasons people are drawn to the United States, even among those who broadly support a more restrictive policy.
