Controversy Erupts Over Leaked Young Republican Group Chat

Fri Oct 17 2025 09:03:22 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A leaked group chat from the Young Republican National Federation revealing racist language and inappropriate jokes has sparked demands for resignations across party lines.

Months of private exchanges from a Telegram group chat have been publicly revealed, exposing disturbing comments made by Young Republican leaders. The Young Republican National Federation has called for those involved to resign, while bipartisan reactions highlight the gravity of the situation. Notably, Vice President JD Vance has dismissed the outrage as overblown, citing worse statements made by Democrats. Calls for accountability from both Republican and Democrat leaders aim to address the harmful rhetoric displayed in the chats.

The public release of a Young Republican group chat that included racist language, jokes about rape, and flippant commentary on gas chambers has prompted bipartisan calls for those involved to be removed from or resign their positions.

The Young Republican National Federation, the GOP's political organization for Republicans aged 18 to 40, urged those involved to step down, describing the exchanges as 'unbecoming of any Republican.'

Conversely, Republican Vice President JD Vance defended the chat participants, labeling the outrage as 'pearl clutching' in response to the Politico report of the leaked messages.

The leaked Telegram exchanges reveal a group of young GOP leaders from states including New York, Kansas, Arizona, and Vermont expressing concern about potential exposure of their remarks. Republican lawmakers reacted swiftly, calling for resignations from members like Vermont State Senator Sam Douglass, who participated in the chat which has been labeled offensive and unacceptable.

Alongside the call for accountability from Republican leaders like New York’s Elise Stefanik, Democratic leaders have echoed the condemnation. California Governor Gavin Newsom and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer called the comments horrifying and demanded investigations and accountability.

Vance, however, dismissed the severity of the Young Republican comments, comparing them to past comments made by Democrats and advocating for leniency towards youthful indiscretion.

This controversy underscores the ongoing challenges within the Republican Party as it confronts its internal culture and external perceptions in a polarized political landscape.