The Texas Nationalist Movement (TNM) is a political organization that advocates for the independence of Texas from the United States, founded in 2005 as a splinter organization from a faction of the Republic of Texas group led by Daniel Miller. The organization is non-violent in nature. It claims to be the single largest sovereignty advocacy group in Texas, purporting over 633,098 supporters. The organization is part of the broader Texan secession and independence movement.
Contents
Ideology
The TNM espouses Texas nationalism, aiming to establish Texas as a self-governing, independent nation. Its ideological foundation is outlined in the book Texit: Why and How Texas Will Leave the Union, authored by TNM President Daniel Miller.
According to its website, the objective of the Texas Nationalist Movement is "the complete, total and unencumbered political, cultural and economic independence of Texas". Unlike its predecessor, TNM claims to work peaceably with the current political system, and to reject use of force to achieve its goals. TNM is an unincorporated association under the laws of the State of Texas. The organization focuses on political support and advocacy, and education surrounding the issue of secession. It seeks to have the Texas Legislature call for a state-wide referendum on the issue, similar to the Scottish Independence vote of 2014.
International relations
The TNM has shown support for independence movements abroad such as in Alberta, Alaska, Northern Mexico, California, New Hampshire and Louisiana. In 2024, the TNM declared its support for secessionist groups in Northern Mexico.
In 2015, a representative from the Texas Nationalist Movement attended a separatist conference in Russia. Public records show that the conference was almost entirely paid for by the Kremlin's "National Charitable Foundation". During Russia's 2016 interference operations in the U.S., a fake Russian Facebook page, dubbed "Heart of Texas," claimed it was passing information about supporters along to the Texas Nationalist Movement.
History
The modern Texas independence movement has roots in the Republic of Texas organization, which emerged in the 1990s. In 1996, the movement split into three factions: one led by Richard McLaren, another by David Johnson and Jesse Enloe, and a third by Archie Lowe and Daniel Miller (which would later become the TNM.)
In 1997, McLaren’s faction made national headlines after kidnapping Joe and Margaret Ann Rowe at the Davis Mountain Resort and demanding the release of a jailed movement member in exchange. After a week-long standoff with law enforcement, McLaren surrendered peacefully, persuaded by his wife Evelyn. This effectively destroyed the McLaren faction, and the Johnson-Enloe faction was discredited after two of its members, Jack Abbot Grebe Jr. and Johnnie Wise, were convicted in 1998 of threatening to assassinate several government officials, including President Bill Clinton. The two men were each sentenced to 24 years in prison.
In 2003, what remained of the organized movement consolidated into one dominant group recognizing an "interim" government (which replaced the "provisional" government), headed by Daniel Miller. This interim government claimed authority from the original proclamations of 1995 and set up a headquarters in the town of Overton, Texas. The Republic of Texas headquarters in Overton burned down on August 31, 2005; one person was moderately injured.
After the burning of the headquarters in Overton, the Texas Nationalist Movement (TNM) was formally established in 2005.
In January 2013, members of the TNM rallied at the state capital in Austin to promote the resolution, resulting in one mention of secession by one lawmaker on the opening day of the legislative session. In May 2016, the Texas GOP narrowly rejected bringing a resolution for secession to a floor vote at the 2016 Texas Republican Convention.
In 2015, a representative from the Texas Nationalist Movement attended a separatist conference in Russia. Public record show that the conference was almost entirely paid for by the Kremlin's "National Charitable Foundation".
During Russia's 2016 interference operations in the U.S., a fake Russian Facebook page, dubbed "Heart of Texas," claimed it was passing information about supporters along to the Texas Nationalist Movement.