Trump Nominee’s Racist Texts Surface

A bombshell investigation has thrown a wrench into President Donald Trump’s nomination for the U.S. Office of Special Counsel. Paul Ingrassia, the nominee, is now facing intense scrutiny after a trove of racist and inflammatory text messages he sent were made public.

Disparaging Remarks About MLK Day and Black Holidays

According to a Politico report, Ingrassia made deeply offensive comments in a group chat with Republican operatives and influencers. He stated that the federal holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. should be relegated to “hell.” In one message from January 2024, he wrote, “MLK Jr. was the 1960s George Floyd and his ‘holiday’ should be ended and tossed into the seventh circle of hell where it belongs.”

Ingrassia also expressed disdain for other Black American holidays, including Kwanzaa, Black History Month, and Juneteenth, calling for them to be “eviscerated.” He referred to these observances as “moulignon holidays,” using an Italian slur for Black people.

Racist Views on Black People and Africa

The 30-year-old staffer, who currently serves as a White House liaison at the Department of Homeland Security, didn’t stop there. He referred to the continent of Africa as a “shithole,” echoing a term allegedly used by President Trump. Ingrassia also wrote, “Proof: all of Africa is a shithole, and will always be that way.”

When discussing why some Republicans believe Democrats create victims, Ingrassia stated, “Blacks behave that way because that’s their natural state … You can’t change them.” He even claimed to have “a Nazi streak.”

Defense and Further Controversy

An attorney for Ingrassia has pushed back, stating, “We do not concede the authenticity of any of these purported messages,” suggesting they might be doctored or lack context. However, Ingrassia is already facing an internal investigation for alleged sexual harassment and has a history of controversial statements, including calling for the January 6th insurrection to be honored as a national holiday.

Ingrassia’s nomination to lead the Special Counsel’s office, an agency handling whistleblower complaints and discrimination claims, is now in serious jeopardy. Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune has indicated there aren’t enough votes for confirmation, especially after these racist texts came to light.