WASHINGTON—Representative Byron Donalds (R-FL), who is running for governor of Florida, has sharply condemned racist and antisemitic comments in a private GOP group chat The Floridian reported on, saying they have no place in the Republican Party.
In response to The Floridian's request for comment, Rep. Donalds told Publisher Javier Manjarres that "the comments reported run counter to the values" of the Republican Party, adding that the Republican party "rejects racism, antisemitism, and bigotry."
"Everyone has the First Amendment right to say what they want — even when it's vile and offensive. But free speech doesn’t entitle someone to hold a leadership position within the Republican Party or the conservative movement. The comments reported run counter to the values our party stands for. The Republican Party rejects racism, antisemitism, and bigotry," said Rep. Donalds.
In the controversial chat, “Uber Retards Yapping Inc.,” run by Miami-Dade GOP Secretary Abel Alexander Carvajal, the N-word used over 200 times, along with celebrations of removing an African-American activist from the FIU College Republicans, and the use of disturbing antisemitic rhetoric.
Members of the chat also made violent threats against Black people and referenced neo-Nazi ideas, like renaming the chat “Gooning in Agartha”, a nod to a mythical Aryan homeland popular with white nationalists.
Carvajal administered the chat for months, often joining in with his own derogatory comments and calling himself “MaoTze Abel,” a reference to the Chinese dictator.
Other members included Dariel Gonzalez, FIU College Republicans Membership Director, who posted “Total Negro Death!” while seeking a GOP committeeman role, and Ian Valdes, FIU Turning Point chapter president.
Sources say Carvajal even recruited some chat members into Miami-Dade GOP leadership positions.
