Leaders of Young Republican chapters have been exposed for sharing racist and antisemitic texts in group chats, including declarations like 'I love Hitler.' Similar scandals involve Trump appointee Paul Ingrassia and indie singer Ethel Cain, whose old social media posts have reignited debates on casual racism among white individuals across the political spectrum. Apologies from those involved often cite youth and edginess, but critics question their sincerity and the broader cultural acceptance of such behavior.
In recent months, a series of leaked group chats has revealed racist and antisemitic messages among leaders of Young Republican chapters nationwide. The texts included extreme statements such as “I love Hitler,” highlighting what the article describes as a pattern of 'edgelord racism and ironic bigotry' in political circles.
A second leak involved Paul Ingrassia, a 30-year-old Trump appointee nominated to head the Office of Special Counsel. His messages in Republican group chats echoed similar offensive content, leading him to withdraw his nomination, citing insufficient “Republican votes at this time.”
Indie singer-songwriter Ethel Cain, who is trans and whose anti-war song appeared on Obama’s 2022 recommended playlist, faced backlash when eight-year-old racist social media posts resurfaced. In her apology, Cain explained she was “young” and posted intentionally “inflammatory and controversial” content to “make [her] friends laugh,” calling it “deeply shameful and embarrassing.” She added, “I am white, so while I can take accountability for my actions, there’s no way for me to fully understand the way it feels to be on the receiving end of them.… Any way you feel about me moving forward is valid.”
Vice President JD Vance defended the Young Republicans, stating, “kids do stupid things.… They tell edgy, offensive jokes. That’s what kids do,” and dismissed the offense as “BS.” He elaborated, “I really don’t want to 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.” Participants ranged in age from 24 to 35, challenging the 'youth' excuse.
The article draws parallels to past cases, like Latina singer Camila Cabello’s resurfaced Tumblr posts containing the n-word, for which she apologized as coming from her “younger” days and expressed being “deeply ashamed” and “deeply embarrassed.” It argues that anti-Blackness serves as a rite of passage for white people, reinforced historically through humor like blackface minstrelsy in the 1800s and analyzed in works by sociologists Gunnar Myrdal (1944) and Raúl Pérez (2017). Despite consequences for some, the piece notes that Cain’s career was not derailed, and figures like Ingrassia may return to power, underscoring a lack of lasting accountability for racism.