The New York State Republican Party has found itself at the center of a political firestorm after a trove of offensive messages exchanged by young GOP leaders was leaked to the public, prompting swift and sweeping disciplinary action. On October 17, 2025, the executive committee of the New York Republican State Committee voted unanimously to suspend and disband its state young Republican chapter, following revelations of racist, antisemitic, and otherwise abhorrent language in a private Telegram group chat. The messages, first reported by POLITICO and later covered by USA TODAY, have sent shockwaves through both state and national Republican circles, exposing rifts and raising questions about accountability, leadership, and the future of youth involvement in the party.
According to USA TODAY, the controversy erupted after the publication of some 2,900 pages of online messages shared among a dozen millennial and Generation Z Republicans. The chat, titled "RESTOREYR WAR ROOM," included not only slurs disparaging Black people but also individuals joking about rape, voicing support for Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler, making gas chamber references, and praising Republicans who "support slavery." The most prominent figure implicated was Peter Giunta, who at the time served as vice chair—and later chair—of the New York State Young Republicans, as well as chief of staff for New York Assemblyman Michael Reilly. Giunta was fired from his legislative role after the scandal broke.
Some of the most disturbing messages were attributed directly to Giunta. As reported by POLITICO, he wrote, "Im going to create some of the greatest physiological torture methods known to man. We only want true believers," and threatened, "Everyone that votes no is going to the gas chamber," in reference to an internal leadership vote. Joe Maligno, who previously identified himself as the general counsel for the New York State Young Republicans, chimed in, "Can we fix the showers? Gas chambers don’t fit the Hitler aesthetic." Another leader, Annie Kaykaty, the chapter's national committee member, declared, "I’m ready to watch people burn now."
The fallout was immediate. On October 14, Republican leaders from across New York convened virtually to address the crisis. State GOP Chairman Ed Cox quickly announced the suspension of the New York State Young Republicans, stating, "The Young Republicans was already grossly mismanaged, and vile language of the sort made in the group chat has no place in our party or its subsidiary organizations." Cox added, "Today, the Executive Committee of the New York Republican State Committee unanimously voted to suspend authorization of the New York State Young Republicans following a report of a group chat that included racist and antisemitic language on the part of leadership."
The scandal did not remain confined to New York. Leaders of young Republican chapters in Kansas, Arizona, and Vermont were also implicated in the chat, with the Kansas Young Republicans facing similar consequences. Kansas GOP chair Danedri Herbert issued a statement expressing disgust at the comments, clarifying that they "do not represent the beliefs of Kansas Republicans." The Kansas Young Republicans chair Alex Dwyer and vice chair William Hendrix were both denounced, with Hendrix losing his job at the Attorney General's Office. As resignations piled up, the Kansas Young Republicans became inactive.
The reverberations continued as local Republican leaders in New York responded to the growing public outrage. Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, running for re-election in November, posted on Facebook, "The so-called Young Republicans who espouse values contrary to our party’s principles and my values are not welcome in my campaign." Hempstead Town Supervisor John Ferretti, also seeking re-election, took to Instagram to call for the resignation of those responsible, writing, "The vile and bigoted texts that have come to light are deeply offensive and reprehensible. I fully condemn this kind of hate-filled language and the individuals behind it. They should resign immediately from any role within the Young Republicans. The Town of Hempstead and the Nassau GOP stand for decency, respect, and unity – not hate." Nassau County GOP chairman Joe Cairo echoed these sentiments, telling Newsday, "Their words are repugnant and they have no place in the Republican Party or anywhere else."
Yet the timing and sincerity of these condemnations became a point of contention. At a press conference on October 17, Democratic officials and candidates accused local Republicans of only issuing statements after learning of the planned Democratic response. Nassau County executive candidate Seth Koslow pointedly remarked, "Now you might be shocked to find out that after we called this press conference this morning, and within the last hour, all the Republicans are starting to put out their own statements. How ironic. Look at that timing." Koslow called for Blakeman to suspend his campaign, arguing, "He is not a leader for the Jewish people in Nassau County, and he is a danger to all of us because of his failure to act and defend us and condemn these vile statements made by the Young Republicans." Koslow also criticized Blakeman for not explicitly condemning antisemitism in his statement, despite his frequent advocacy on the issue.
Democratic challenger Joe Scianablo, running against Ferretti for Hempstead town supervisor, added, "If he was genuine and if he was a true leader, he would have denounced it right away the same day, just like we did. There is no room for this type of hateful speech in our society. Period." State Senator Jack Martins, a Republican, sought to strike a balance, condemning both the messages and what he described as attempts to "smear all Republicans." He wrote on Facebook, "The racist and antisemitic messages exposed in a recently publicized group chat are vile and disgusting. There’s no place for that type of hateful language anywhere in society. Period. To those trolling to smear all Republicans, shame on you all. It’s pure politics and speaks volumes about who you are – seriously unserious people trying to score cheap political points."
National figures weighed in as well. Vice President JD Vance, appearing on "The Charlie Kirk Show" on October 20, offered a more measured take, observing, "The reality is that kids do stupid things, especially young boys. 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." His remarks sparked debate about the line between youthful indiscretion and genuine bigotry, with some arguing that such language reveals deeper cultural problems within the party's younger ranks, while others cautioned against overzealous punishment.
As the dust settles, the scandal has left the New York and Kansas Young Republicans in disarray, their chapters suspended and their leaders ousted. The broader Republican Party faces tough questions about oversight, culture, and the standards to which it holds its future leaders. With local elections looming and political tensions running high, the episode serves as a stark reminder of the power—and peril—of private words in a digital age where nothing stays secret for long.
