Kaya Walker, the former president of NYU’s College Republican Club, has stepped down following backlash over remarks she made about Barron Trump. Walker now says she regrets resigning, arguing that her words were misrepresented and blown out of proportion.
Walker’s resignation followed an interview with Vanity Fair, in which she described Barron, a freshman at NYU’s Stern School of Business, as an “oddity on campus.” The comment, amplified by the conservative X account AF Post, sparked controversy and led to accusations that she was mocking the former president’s son.
Walker defends her statement
Speaking to the New York Post, Walker clarified that her words were taken out of context. She explained that her intent was not to criticise Barron but to highlight his unique experience at NYU, where he commutes from his family’s Upper East Side residence instead of living on campus. “[AF Post] made it look like I was calling the president’s son weird, but I feel like anybody who can read would know that’s not what I was doing,” she told The Post.
Walker also noted that she sympathised with Barron’s situation, saying he is often treated like a spectacle by classmates and the media. “I feel bad for him more than anything,” she previously told The Post.
Pressured to step down?
According to The New York Post, the College Republicans of America (CRA) encouraged Walker to resign, citing concerns about negative media attention. Will Donahue, the organisation’s president, told The Post that chapter leaders should seek board approval before speaking with “left-wing journalists” to avoid misrepresentation. However, Walker now believes she acted too hastily. “I actually regret resigning,” she admitted.
Conservative backlash and future uncertainty
Walker’s resignation has ignited debate within conservative circles, with some seeing it as a case of cancel culture. While she remains committed to conservative advocacy, her future role within the movement remains unclear.