Young Conservatives Gather In Manhattan For Festive 'Make America Hot Again' Holiday Party

On a cold December evening in Manhattan, young conservatives and nearby residents gathered for a holiday social titled the "Baby It's Cold Outside" party, hosted by a group calling itself "Make America Hot Again." The event, held on Dec. 4, aimed to give younger conservatives a relaxed, social space to meet, converse and celebrate the season.

Organizer's Vision: A Less 'Stuffy' Conservative Scene

Organizer Raquel Debono, a Canadian who has lived in the United States for ten years and is pursuing U.S. citizenship, said the gathering reflects a changing conservative scene. "This is not your mom and dad's Republican Party anymore," Debono said, explaining that she wanted to bring together younger conservatives who enjoy going out and socializing rather than attending formal, stuffy events.

The event hosted by "Make America Hot Again" received young men and women at the Saint Restaurant Bar & Speakesy in the East Village.

"We like to go out, we like to have a drink, we like to have fun. We want to have a good time. It's not even overtly political — it's just a group of people who think like you do, getting all in the same room and really just having a good night." — Raquel Debono

Attendees Share Their Perspectives

Attendee Dylan said events like this immediately put people at ease: "You can open up right out of the get-go." He added that he hopes for conversations with more depth than the typical culture-war exchanges: "I'm sick of people's politics stopping at the culture wars. I need depth. I need real values."

Not everyone at the party was a Trump supporter. Rahul, who said he leans liberal largely because of social issues, described the atmosphere as welcoming and different from his usual nights out in very liberal New York City. "Everybody's been very nice and accommodating here," he said, noting he met people he wouldn't normally encounter at other venues.

A man in a cowboy hat smiles for a picture at the "Baby It's Cold Outside" party.

Paula Scanlan, who works for Early Vote Action, described the effort she made to build friendships after moving to the city. "There are a lot more Trump supporters if you go and find them. It was something I worked really hard to do once I moved here — to put myself out there and make friends — and that's something I'm really, really grateful for," she said.

Several attendees said they often conceal conservative views in New York social settings. Dylan observed that political alignment frequently surfaces early in social interactions and that gatherings like this allow people to speak more freely without fear of social repercussions. Scanlan echoed that sentiment, saying she feels less worried about offending others and more comfortable expressing her opinions at these events.

Matches offered at the "Make America Hot Again" Christmas party.

Playful Branding and Social Rebranding

The "Make America Hot Again" slogan prompted lighthearted reactions: Scanlan described "hot" in terms of health and vitality — "I think there's a lot of people who are not healthy. I think healthy is hot" — while Rahul simply quipped, "I think America's very hot." Debono said the events represent a social rebrand for her circle: "My friend group is pretty socially liberal. We like to go out, we like to drink, we get after it, we have fun. You can call us degenerates, or you can call us cool conservatives. I don't know. But I'm doing a rebrand."

The party offered a snapshot of younger conservative social life in a largely liberal city: a mix of political views, a focus on social connection, and an emphasis on creating settings where attendees feel free to speak and meet new people.

Reporting: Fox News Digital attended the event. Alba Cuebas-Fantauzzi contributed to the coverage.