We always knew this was what they thought about us; however, rarely are our suspicions confirmed in such a bold, belligerent, and brash manner.
But that’s exactly what happened last week when a series of virulently racist, antisemitic, and bigoted messages allegedly exchanged by members of several Young Republican National Federation chapters caused widespread condemnation from a multitude of voices in politically influential arenas.
The controversy erupted following a report that detailed a trove of private text messages and online Telegram chats, reportedly from members of Young Republican groups in states including Kansas, New York, Arizona, and Vermont.
William Hendrix, the Kansas Young Republicans’ vice chair, used the words “n–ga” and “n–guh,” variations of a racial slur, more than a dozen times in the chat.
I feel no shock or surprise at the revealed messages because the GOP has repeatedly hosted dangerous and dastardly figures in its midst.
The scandal has cast a harsh light on the rhetoric brewing within some of the party’s youth organizations and has led to swift repercussions for some of the individuals implicated.
Epithets like “f—-t,” “retarded” and “n–ga” appeared more than 251 times combined, according to POLITICO.
GOP tries to distance itself from radical group
The GOP is attempting to distance themselves from the accused group, however, they have harbored that type of explosively incendiary speech for so long that they felt comfortable exchanging violent and hate-filled messages with each other.
Members of the Telegram chat group titled “RESTOREYR WAR ROOM” referred to Black people as “monkeys” and “the watermelon people.”
“The hateful statements made in this group chat are disgusting and unacceptable. The vile, racist, bigoted, and antisemitic dialogue that has been reported is deeply disturbing. There is simply no excuse for it,” Republican Gov. Phil Scott of Vermont said in a statement Tuesday. “Those involved should resign from their roles immediately and leave the Republican party — including Vermont State Senator Sam Douglass.”
At least one member of the Telegram chat currently serves in the Trump administration.
JD Vance dismissed it as “what kids do”
“The reality is that kids do stupid things, especially young boys,” Vice President Vance said. “They tell edgy, offensive jokes. That’s what kids do. And I really don’t want us to grow up in a country where a kid telling a stupid joke – telling a very offensive, stupid joke – is cause to ruin their lives.”
The Young Republican National Federation consists of members aged 18 to 40 and has a chapter in every state. According to the group’s website, the organization aims to recruit young voices to the GOP, before training them and encouraging them to run for office.
Brushing off their words as something “kids do” only gives permission to others who seek to use language to further denigrate people unlike themselves. Grown adults, not “kids,” knowingly spread hate-filled messages to each other using centuries-old, dehumanizing stereotypes.
These “kids” put on their white sheets in private
These “kids” knew what they were doing did so under the cover of protected anonymity, or so they thought.
How many Republicans clandestinely operate with the same belief system yet smile in the face of the same people they disparage in private? None of these cowards would dare spew their white supremacy messages in public or in the face of those they clearly hate.
The fact that these men felt comfortable enough with each other to send these messages lets us know how many Republicans secretly feel toward Black, Brown, gay, Jewish, and everyday people.
The content of these messages included racial slurs against Black individuals, derogatory remarks about Jewish people, mockery of the LGBTQ+ community, and jokes about violence and the Holocaust.
The Young Republican National Federation has chapters in each state in America, and you have to ask, how widespread is this? How many of these people secretly share in these beliefs across the country?
Young Republican National Federation says it’s “apalled” by messages
The revelations triggered a swift and forceful response from the Young Republican National Federation, the umbrella organization for Young Republican chapters across the country.
In a public statement, the YRNF expressed its disgust with the reported messages and unequivocally called for the resignations of all individuals involved in the hateful exchanges. “The Young Republican National Federation is appalled by the vile and inexcusable language,” the statement read, emphasizing that such sentiments have no place within the Republican Party.
That statement reads hollow and without merit as the GOP has regularly utilized racially charged language to attract and maintain a certain sect of the population that weaponizes culture wars to win political campaigns.
Republican Governor says “there is simply no excuse”
In Vermont, Governor Scott issued a scathing rebuke, labeling the messages “disgusting and unacceptable.” He specifically called for the resignation of a Vermont state senator who was reportedly a participant in the chats. “There is simply no excuse for it,” Governor Scott asserted, urging those involved to step down from their positions.
Similarly, in New York, Republican Representative Elise Stefanik, a prominent voice in the party, did not mince words. “I am absolutely appalled,” she stated, demanding that any Young Republicans from her state who participated in the hateful dialogue resign immediately.
The discovery of these messages has raised serious questions about the culture within these local Young Republican organizations and the extent to which such extremist views may have taken root.
Consequences, for some, have been swift
In the wake of the scandal, some of the individuals allegedly involved have faced immediate consequences.At least one person lost their job after their participation in the chats became public. The Kansas and New York Young Republicans chapters have reportedly become inactive in the aftermath of the revelations.
Some accused individuals issued apologies, while others defended themselves by claiming they misinterpreted or doctored the messages. However, the sheer volume and explicit nature of the reported communications have made it difficult to mitigate the damage.
Investigators will likely uncover more fallout in the coming weeks as they expose the full scope of the hateful messages and those involved.