who is rick wilson

Rick Wilson is best known as a longtime Republican political strategist, ad‑maker, and sharp‑tongued political commentator who became a prominent critic of Donald Trump and a co‑founder of the anti‑Trump group The Lincoln Project.

Who Rick Wilson Is

Rick Wilson is a veteran of national Republican politics with more than 30–35 years of experience in campaigns, advertising, and messaging. He began in politics as a field director for George H. W. Bush’s 1988 presidential campaign , where he was mentored by strategist Lee Atwater.

Over the years he has:

• Created award‑winning political ads for candidates, parties, and Super PACs.

• Advised Republican candidates, national committees, corporations, and government clients across the U.S. and abroad.

The Lincoln Project and “Never Trump”

In 2015 , Wilson emerged as one of the earliest and most vocal “Never Trump” Republicans , criticizing Trump’s rhetoric and behavior within the GOP. In December 2019 , he co‑founded The Lincoln Project , a political action committee aimed at defeating Trump‑aligned Republicans and defending democratic norms.

The group became widely known for:

• Provocative, often satirical attack ads targeting Trump and his allies.

• Positioning itself as a conservative‑leaning but anti‑Trump force in U.S. politics.

Books, Media, and Public Persona

Wilson is also a New York Times–bestselling author. His first book, Everything Trump Touches Dies , hit No. 1 on the NYT bestseller list , and his second, Running Against the Devil , also debuted in the top‑five. He regularly writes for outlets such as The Washington Post, Politico, Rolling Stone, The Hill, The Bulwark, and The Spectator , and appears on CNN, MSNBC, NPR, and other national and international programs.

On social media—especially X (formerly Twitter) —Wilson is known for:

• Blunt, sarcastic commentary on Trump, the GOP, and U.S. politics.

• Using satire and historical context to dissect current events and campaign strategies.

Quick identity table

Category| Detail
---|---
Full name| Rick Wilson
Main role| Republican political strategist, ad‑maker, commentator
Known for| Co‑founding The Lincoln Project , “Never Trump” stance
Career start| Field director, George H. W. Bush 1988 campaign 39
Books| Everything Trump Touches Dies (NYT No. 1), Running Against the Devil 13
Media presence| Regular guest on CNN, MSNBC, NPR , plus columns in major outlets 137
Online handle| @TheRickWilson on X (Twitter) 10

If you meant a different Rick Wilson (for example, the NASCAR driver born in 1953), say so and I can pivot to that profile instead.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.