The College Republicans of America (CRA) has released an official statement following the resignation of Kaya Walker, the President of the New York University (NYU) College Republicans, after her controversial remarks about Barron Trump during a recent interview.
In the interview with Vanity Fair, Walker made comments regarding Barron Trump, who has been attending classes at NYU’s Stern School of Business since September after graduating from Florida’s Oxbridge Academy in May. During the interview, Walker described the 18-year-old, who is the youngest son of the 78-year-old former President, as “sort of like an oddity on campus” and remarked that “he goes to class, he goes home.” She further noted that one of her professors had joked that the teen “doesn’t really belong here,” a remark that seemed to reflect on the school’s historically liberal atmosphere.
Additional anecdotes from Barron’s classmates added to the controversy. One classmate recounted asking to play basketball with him and, while noting that he appeared interested, said he got the impression that “he wasn’t really allowed to do stuff” due to the presence of plainclothes Secret Service officers.
In the wake of these comments, CRA released a statement on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, February 17, addressing the situation directly. The statement read:
“In light of recent reports concerning the President of our New York University (NYU) chapter, College Republicans of America (CRA) wishes to address the situation directly. We have been made aware of a statement made by the NYU chapter President that does not align with the values and principles upheld by our organisation.”
The CRA further explained that after reviewing the situation, they deemed the remarks made by Walker inappropriate. “Upon review, we still found it to be inappropriate,” the statement continued, noting that Walker had submitted her resignation the previous night. The organisation accused Vanity Fair of “unfairly framing what was said,” but maintained that the comments were not in keeping with CRA’s standards.
The statement also highlighted the longstanding support that CRA has demonstrated for President Trump. “CRA broke with 100 years of precedent when we endorsed President Trump, being the first national College Republican organisation to endorse a candidate before the beginning of the primary season,” it read. The statement went on to explain that CRA had made over one million voter contacts during both the primary and general elections, deploying hundreds of students to support the Trump campaign. The statement underscored that their support for President Trump has always been a cornerstone of the organisation.
In a further gesture, the CRA President, Will Donahue, extended a formal invitation for Barron Trump to join the organisation. “In response to recent events with our NYU chapter, College Republicans of America formally invites Barron Trump to join us in reshaping the Republican Party,” Donahue stated. He added, “Barron Trump represents the future of the conservative movement, and we would be honoured to have him join College Republicans of America. Strong leadership is built on resilience, courage, and the humility to rise above petty hostility—qualities that Barron has already demonstrated. We invite Barron to join us in shaping the future of our party.”
This invitation comes at a time when the Republican Party is actively seeking to engage younger generations and redefine its values. Barron Trump, who is known to share custody with his mother Melania Trump, is one of the five children of former President Donald Trump. In addition to Barron, Trump has four other children—Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric from his first marriage to Ivana Trump, and Tiffany Trump from his marriage to Marla Maples.
The controversy began when Walker’s remarks on the SNL-related interview surfaced, igniting strong reactions among many Republican supporters. Several users on X expressed their discontent with Walker’s comments, describing them as disrespectful and indicative of an attitude that they felt undermined the respect due to Barron Trump. The criticism was swift and vocal, with some users accusing her of perpetuating stereotypes and attempting to belittle Barron’s presence on campus.
In response to recent events with our NYU chapter, College Republicans of America formally invites Barron Trump to join us in reshaping the Republican Party. https://t.co/ydxk0gVC9x pic.twitter.com/P56fNsFqyU
— College Republicans of America (@uscollegegop) February 17, 2025
In response, CRA emphasized that while they value diverse opinions, the remarks made did not reflect the organisation’s commitment to respectful discourse and the principles that have guided them through decades of political engagement. The organisation’s statement clarified that they would continue to uphold the values of conservative activism and remain dedicated to supporting President Trump and his legacy within the collegiate political sphere.
The resignation of Kaya Walker has sparked a broader conversation about the boundaries of political satire and the responsibilities of campus political leaders in navigating sensitive topics. As the debate continues both on social media and in more formal political circles, CRA’s decision to distance itself from Walker’s remarks has been seen as an effort to reaffirm its commitment to the values that have long defined the conservative movement on college campuses.
In closing, CRA reiterated its support for President Trump and its commitment to nurturing the next generation of conservative leaders. The invitation extended to Barron Trump is a symbolic gesture, intended not only to bridge the generational divide but also to demonstrate that the organisation values the potential contributions of young conservatives to the future of the party.
As this story continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how these developments will influence the dynamics within collegiate political organisations and what long-term effects they might have on the broader conservative movement. For now, CRA stands by its principles and looks forward to engaging with the leaders of tomorrow as they work to reshape the political landscape in a rapidly changing world.
