A sensational report detailing virulently racist and anti-Semitic text messages exchanged between members of Young Republican groups across the country has lifted the curtain on how the next generation of GOP leaders speak when they think no one is looking.
“Can we fix the shower? Gas chambers don't fit Hitler's aesthetics.”
“I would go to the zoo if I wanted to watch monkeys play ball.”
“You give citizens [too] great praise and I expect the Jew to be honest.”
“I love Hitler.”
Politician investigation, published on Tuesdayfound hundreds of text messages disparaging minorities, women and religious groups. The report counted 251 uses of slurs such as the n-word and “f****t.” The report was met with universal disgust—by a majority.
Chat participants were distributed among Young Republican chapters from New York, Kansas and Vermont. Many have already firmly established themselves in the politics of their state and beyond. They include 27-year-old Vermont state Sen. Samuel Douglas, Trump administration official Michael Bartels and Bobby Walker, who once worked for New York State Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt.
It is not surprising that, given the generally caustic tone, republican party's treatment of minorities and migrants – some prominent conservative lawmakers and commentators rushed to defend the participants.
Perhaps most prominent among the white knights was Vice President J.D. Vance, who downplayed the texts by comparing them to a leaked message from Jay Jones, the Democratic nominee for Virginia attorney general. Jones came under fire this month after 2022 text messages in which he expressed a desire to shoot the former Virginia House speaker. were made public.
“This is far worse than anything that was said in a college group chat, and the guy who said it could become the Attorney General of Virginia. I refuse to join in the pearl clutching when powerful people call for political violence,” Vance wrote on social media on Tuesday. Jones, in fact, was convicted members of his own party. Jones is also one person making condemnatory statements, rather than a large group of politically minded people producing, sharing and celebrating the very hatred they claim to offend.
Vance addressed the texts on The Charlie Kirk Show later Wednesday. “Focus on the real issues,” he said. said. “Don't focus on what kids say in group chats.” He then suggested that whoever leaked the racist messages was a “scumbag.”
“Kids do stupid things,” he continued. “Especially young boys. They tell harsh, offensive jokes. That's what kids do.”
It's also worth noting that while the Young Republicans may sound like a group made up of very immature, underdeveloped prefrontal cortexes, the national organization accepts GOP members between the ages of 18 and 40. Some of those who participated in the chat were not only long past their college careers, but also held leadership positions in the Young Republicans and had relationships with members of the Trump administration. Yet Vance and others pretend that those responsible should be given the benefit of childlike naivety for fantasizing about putting their opponents in gas chambers.
“I literally don’t care what a bunch of college kids said in a group chat,” right-wing streamer and commentator Tim Poole. wrote on X.
Pizzagate conspiracy theorist Mike Cernovich took a similar tact: letter that “Young Republicans blowing off steam in immature group texts are not in the same universe as a powerful Democrat fantasizing about killing children. Don't give a damn about that bullshit.”
The Daily Wire's Matt Walsh also used Jones' messages to apologize to the chat participants. “The Virginia candidate has fantasized about killing children, and no Democrat at any level has called for him to resign or condemned him in any serious way. Meanwhile, several college students are making harsh jokes in a group chat, and conservatives are scrambling to denounce, disavow, and call for firings and resignations,” he said. wrote.
Several chat participants have already been forced to quit their jobs in Republican politics due to the fallout. Peter Giunta, former chairman of the New York State Young Republicans, has left his post in the office of New York Assemblymember Mike Reilly. Joseph Maligno, former general counsel of the Young Republicans of New York, has left his post at the New York State Unified Court System. for Politician.
IN statement The Young Republicans posted on social media that they were “appalled by the vile and inexcusable language” used by their members. “This behavior is disgraceful, unbecoming of any Republican, and is in direct opposition to the values our movement represents. Those involved should immediately resign from all positions in their state and local Young Republican organizations. We must be held to the highest standards of integrity, respect and professionalism,” they wrote.
But in reality, racist messages and corresponding minimization by Republicans speak to a conservative culture that clings to bigotry as a unifying force of identity—a pattern that has only intensified in the Trump era.
On Wednesday, the official Facebook and Instagram accounts of the US Border Patrol posted – and later deleted – videos using the original version and lyrics of Michael Jackson's song “They Don't Care About Us.” The song that was re-recorded in 1995originally included the words “Jew on me, sue me.”
On Tuesday, the official X Department of Homeland Security account posted “Remigrate.” by X. Remigration is a fascist concept developed in the mid-20th century by European white nationalists who advocated the mass expulsion of minorities and immigrants to their countries of origin.
And, of course, there is the mouthpiece of anti-minority and xenophobic rhetoric coming from the resident himself, who just within the last year described migrants as eating pets terrorists who blood poisoning nation.
It's no surprise that the budding ranks of politically active young Republicans feel emboldened to speak as they spoke to each other in the leaked messages. They have a mirror in the White House and defenders around them.
