Young Republicans implicated in a scandal over racist, antisemitic and misogynistic comments in leaked chat messages reported by Politico face mounting calls to step down from their positions in party organizations.
Politico obtained 2,900 pages of exchanges over seven months among a dozen Young Republican leaders in New York, Kansas, Arizona and Vermont that it said offered “an unfiltered look at how a new generation of GOP activists talk when they think no one is listening.”
Why It Matters
The uproar over the messages comes at a time of political polarization and concern about increasingly inflammatory political discourse, particularly since the assassination of conservative activist and Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk at a university in Utah on September 10.
What To Know
Some of those taking part in the chats revealed by Politico referred to Black people as monkeys and “the watermelon people,” referred to opponents in gas chambers and spoke of raping enemies.
Both Democrats and Republicans have denounced the chat messages and called for those responsible to step down from party positions.
“We are appalled by the vile and inexcusable language revealed in the Politico article,” the board of directors of the Young Republicans National Federation said.
“Such behavior is disgraceful, unbecoming of any Republican, and stands in direct opposition to the values our movement represents. Those involved must immediately resign from all positions within their state and local Young Republican organizations.”
New York Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul said such inflammatory language was being normalized and had to stop. “This isn’t one person saying they love Hitler. It’s a whole lot of people saying things that are so disgusting and so abhorrent that everyone from the president on down should condemn them,” Hochul told reporters.
“There’s got to be consequences. Kick them out of the party. Take away their official roles. Stop using them as campaign advisers. This bull**** has to stop,” she added.
New York State Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt, a Republican, also condemned the messages. “I was shocked and disgusted to learn about the racist, anti-Semitic, and misogynistic comments attributed to members of the New York State Young Republicans,” Ortt said in a statement. “This behavior is indefensible and has no place in our party or anywhere in public life.”
Hochul pointed out some of the language Republicans use to attack Democratic New York City mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani, like “jihadist” and “terrorist,” adding: “Look at what you say yourself, look at your inflammatory words and maybe they have an effect on these young people, many of whom you support and have supported you.”
President Donald Trump has also recently pushed the boundaries of political discourse with AI-generated memes mocking his Democratic rivals, which some have called racist. The White House rejects the suggestion that any of the president’s social media posts have been racist.
What People Are Saying
Democratic Senator Chris Murphy, on X: “This is some vile stuff. And these aren’t teenagers. Many are Republican staffers. At least one works for Trump.”
Politico reported White House spokesperson Liz Huston rejecting the idea that Trump’s rhetoric had anything to do with the chat members’ language: “Only an activist, left-wing reporter would desperately try to tie President Trump into a story about a random groupchat he has no affiliation with, while failing to mention the dangerous smears coming from Democrat politicians who have fantasized about murdering their opponent and called Republicans Nazis and Fascists. No one has been subjected to more vicious rhetoric and violence than President Trump and his supporters.”
One of those involved in the chats, Peter Giunta—chief of staff to New York State Assemblyman Mike Reilly—and also chair of the New York State Young Republicans at the time of the chats, said: “I am so sorry to those offended by the insensitive and inexcusable language found within the more than 28,000 messages of a private group chat that I created during my campaign to lead the Young Republicans.”
What Happens Next
There would seem to be little hope for a more civil political discourse, despite the soul-searching and appeals on both sides, especially in the run-up to next year’s midterms.
Read the full article here
