A leaked Telegram group chat among young Republican leaders, filled with racist slurs and antisemitic jokes, has led to multiple firings and resignations. Politico's report on the exchanges, spanning January to August 2025, drew widespread condemnation from Republican organizations but defense from Vice President J.D. Vance. The scandal highlights tensions within the GOP over extremism and accountability.
Politico obtained and reviewed 2,900 pages of messages from a private Telegram chat involving members of young Republican groups across the U.S., active from January to August 2025. The exchanges included racial slurs against Black, gay, Latino, and Asian people—such as calling Black people 'monkeys'—along with jokes celebrating Adolf Hitler and references to gas chambers and rape. One example cited: in a discussion about electing a right-wing chair in Michigan, a participant replied, 'Great. I love Hitler,' followed by a laughing emoji. Politico noted that many such remarks appeared intended as jokes, though participants included government staffers and a state senator, not just college students.
The report, published around October 14, 2025, triggered immediate fallout. In Kansas, the state Republican Party deactivated its young Republican organization after chair William Hendrix and deputy chair Bobby Walker were implicated; Hendrix lost his job at Attorney General Kris Kobach's office, and Walker's job offer from a congressional campaign was rescinded. In New York, Peter Giunta, former chair of the New York State Young Republicans and chief of staff to Assemblymember Mike Reilly, was fired. Joseph Maligno, the group's former general counsel, left his position at the New York State Unified Court System. Vermont State Sen. Sam Douglass faced resignation calls from Gov. Phil Scott and fellow Republicans, who called his statements 'deeply disturbing.'
The 94-year-old Young Republican National Federation, for members aged 18-40, issued a statement: 'We are appalled by the vile and inexcusable language... Those involved must immediately resign.' Similar condemnations came from state chapters in New York, North Carolina, Arizona, Missouri, and others, with leaders like Rep. Elise Stefanik and state GOP chair Ed Cox denouncing the chats. Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, piled on: 'It’s revolting... Every single Republican leader... ought to condemn these comments swiftly and unequivocally.' House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called the participants 'sick people' who must be held accountable.
Vice President J.D. Vance downplayed the scandal, posting on X: 'This is far worse than anything said in a college group chat [referring to Democratic candidate Jay Jones' violent texts], and the guy who said it could become the AG of Virginia. I refuse to join the pearl clutching.' On Real America’s Voice, Vance added: 'Grow up! Focus on the real issues. Don’t focus on what kids say in group chat.' Some MAGA figures, like commentator Matt Walsh, echoed this, criticizing conservatives for 'tripping over themselves to denounce' what they called edgy jokes among youth. Far-right voices, including Nick Fuentes, praised Vance and suggested the leak stemmed from internal feuds, possibly involving New York City Young Republican Club president Gavin Wax.
Giunta and Walker apologized but claimed the messages were obtained via extortion by rivals and possibly altered. The episode underscores GOP divides between establishment calls for professionalism and MAGA tolerance for provocative speech amid broader political coarsening.