The Republican Party’s youth wing is in crisis after a leaked Telegram chat revealed racist, antisemitic, and violent messages shared among top Young Republican leaders across multiple states. The messages, obtained by POLITICO, span nearly 3,000 pages and include slurs, white supremacist codes, and disturbing jokes about rape and the Holocaust.
The group chat included rising GOP figures from Kansas, New York, Vermont, and beyond. Many held official titles or worked for elected officials. What they said privately has now gone public, leading to firings, resignations, and a nationwide backlash.
William Hendrix (Kansas Young Republicans Vice Chair)
Hendrix was one of the most active voices in the chat. He repeatedly used the N-word and mocked Black people with racist stereotypes. In one message, he joked, “Would he like some watermelon and Kool-Aid with that?”
Hendrix worked for the Kansas Attorney General’s office as a communications staffer. After the leak surfaced, he was immediately fired. The Kansas Republican Party later made its Young Republicans chapter inactive following the scandal.
Alex Dwyer (Kansas Young Republicans Chair)
Alex Dwyer, the state chair, also appeared in the leaked chats. He used the white supremacist code “1488,” which stands for “14 words” and “Heil Hitler.” The phrase is often used by neo-Nazis and extremist groups.
Dwyer also made cynical jokes about politics, writing “Trump’s too busy burning the Epstein files.” That comment, along with his other remarks, has fueled criticism that the Kansas YRs tolerated extremism in their leadership ranks.
After the leak, the Kansas GOP officially deactivated the entire Young Republicans chapter.
Peter Giunta (Former New York Young Republicans Chair)
In New York, former chair Peter Giunta was caught in several of the most disturbing messages. He allegedly made remarks about gas chambers and wrote that people who voted “no” should be “put in the chamber.”
Giunta also made violent comments about “torturing true believers” during internal party debates. Once the messages surfaced, he was fired from his job as chief of staff for a New York Assemblymember.
Giunta later apologized for what he called “inexcusable language” but claimed some messages were altered or taken out of context.
Bobby Walker (New York Young Republicans Vice Chair)
Bobby Walker’s messages were also highlighted in the leak. He allegedly referred to rape as “epic” and used homophobic slurs like “f****t” to insult other members.
He also mocked his own Italian heritage in racist ways, writing “My people built the train tracks with the Chinese.” The tone of the chats was filled with contempt and casual hate speech.
Walker later issued a public apology, admitting that his language was wrong and offensive, while still suggesting some messages may have been “manipulated.”
Samuel Douglass (Vermont State Senator)
Vermont State Senator Samuel Douglass was also named in the leaks. In one message, he commented about a woman, saying, “She just didn’t bathe often.” His wife, Brianna Douglass, was also reportedly active in the chat and allegedly wrote, “You’re giving nationals much credit and expecting the Jew to be honest.”
Republican leaders in Vermont, including the state’s governor, have since called for Douglass to resign.
The Fallout
The backlash has been swift and widespread.
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William Hendrix was fired from the Kansas Attorney General’s office.
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Peter Giunta lost his job with a New York Assemblymember.
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Bobby Walker and other participants faced intense public criticism and internal disciplinary actions.
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The Kansas Young Republicans were officially dissolved.
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The National Young Republicans issued a statement condemning the leaked messages and demanding resignations from those involved.
Democratic and Republican officials alike have denounced the chat. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the content “revolting” and urged Republican leaders to take responsibility.
Meanwhile, Trump ally and Vice President JD Vance brushed off the controversy, calling the backlash “pearl clutching,” which only deepened the public divide over the scandal.
This leak is more than a few bad messages. It’s a reflection of deeper issues inside the Republican Party’s younger circles. The mix of racism, antisemitism, and extremist language shows a pattern that many believe mirrors the party’s struggle with its far-right wing.
The use of coded hate speech like “1488,” alongside open use of racial slurs and violent humor, reveals how normalized this kind of talk has become in some conservative spaces. For a generation of Republicans trying to appeal to young voters, this scandal is a major setback.
As the fallout continues, the question remains: Is the GOP ready to hold its own accountable, or will this be another scandal that fades away once the headlines do?
