The president of the New York University (NYU) chapter of the College Republicans of America (CRA), Kaya Walker, has stepped down after referring to President Donald Trump‘s son, Barron, as “sort of like an oddity on campus” during an interview with Vanity Fair.
In the Vanity Fair feature about Barron’s education at NYU, Walker commented: “He’s sort of like an oddity on campus. He goes to class, he goes home.” During the Vanity Fair interview, Walker also claimed that a professor at NYU had joked that Barron “doesn’t really belong here.”
According to Newsweek, Walker resigned on Sunday, and the CRA announced her resignation in an X post on Monday, labeling her comments as “inappropriate,” and extended an invitation Barron Trump to join CRA. Barron Trump started his business studies at NYU’s Stern School of Business in September 2024.
“We have been made aware of a statement by the NYU chapter President that does not align with the values and principles upheld by our organization. Though Vanity Fair and The Independent unfairly framed what was said, upon review, we still found it to be inappropriate. The NYU chapter President submitted her resignation last night,” the CRA said.
The CRA added they were the first national College Republican organization to publicly endorse Trump.
“We are collaborating closely with the NYU chapter to ensure a smooth transition in leadership,” CRA said. “CRA broke with 100 years of precedent when we endorsed President Trump, being the first national College Republican organization to endorse a candidate before the beginning of the primary season.”
CRA President Will Donahue then invited Barron Trump to join.
“Barron Trump represents the future of the conservative movement, and we would be honored to have him join College Republicans of America,” Donahue said. “Strong leadership is built on resilience, courage, and the humility to rise above petty hostility—qualities that Barron had already demonstrated. We invite Barron to join us in shaping the future of our party.”
