‘I love Hitler,’ ‘gas chambers’ and ‘rape’: Leaked 2,900-page Telegram chat exposes young Republican leaders’ hate-filled messages

Explosive Telegram Leak Exposes Young Republican Leaders’ Hate-Filled Messages

A shocking Politico investigation has revealed that several members of the Young Republican National Federation (YRNF) exchanged racist, antisemitic, and misogynistic messages in a private Telegram chat over seven months. The leaked 2,900-page chat log included offensive jokes about slavery, rape, and the Holocaust, as well as repeated use of racial slurs.

The Politico report identified participants from YRNF chapters in New York, Arizona, Kansas, and Vermont, including Peter Giunta, former chair of the New York State Young Republicans; Bobby Walker, the group’s vice-chair; and William Hendrix, vice chair of the Kansas Young Republicans. The leaked chats contain repeated racial slurs, violent rhetoric, and explicit references to rape and the Holocaust.

Walker allegedly described rape as “epic,” while Hendrix used the words “n--ga” and “n--guh” more than a dozen times in the conversation. Joe Maligno, who previously identified himself as general counsel for the New York State Young Republicans, wrote, “Can we fix the showers? Gas chambers don’t fit the Hitler aesthetic.” Annie Kaykaty, a New York national committee member, added, “I’m ready to watch people burn now.”

Referring to an internal vote on his potential elevation to chair, Giunta wrote, “Everyone that votes no is going to the gas chamber,” then added, “I’m going to create some of the greatest physiological torture methods known to man. We only want true believers.”

Who all are involved? 

The private chat in which messages were exchanged was named “Restoreyr War Room.” The chat, now deactivated, spanned from January to mid-August and included about a dozen millennial and Gen Z Republicans, mostly in their 20s.

Among those named are William Hendrix, vice chair of the Kansas Young Republicans and an employee of Attorney General Kris Kobach; Bobby Walker, former vice-chair of the New York chapter; and Peter Giunta, chief of staff for New York State Assembly member Mike Reilly. Members from Arizona and Vermont were also reportedly involved.

When contacted by Politico, most members declined to comment. Giunta, however, dismissed the leak as politically motivated, saying, “These logs were sourced by way of extortion and provided to POLITICO by the very same people conspiring against me.”

He later issued an apology, calling the content “insensitive and inexcusable,” but questioned the authenticity of the leaked messages, adding that he feared they had been “deceptively doctored.”

Despite internal worries that the chat might one day be exposed, participants continued sharing hateful messages while discussing efforts to push the national group toward a hardline pro-Trump agenda.

Following the revelations, the Young Republican National Federation’s national board condemned the language used in the chats and demanded the immediate resignation of all those involved.

What is the Young Republican National Federation?

Founded in 1856 as the Young Republican Club, the YRNF describes itself as “the oldest political youth organization in the United States” and “the premier Republican youth organization.” It serves as a political training and networking platform for Republicans aged 18 to 40, aiming to “provide political knowledge and understanding of the issues of the day.”

The organization operates local chapters in all 50 U.S. states and Puerto Rico, with an estimated 15,000 members nationwide.