Trump Nominee Paul Ingrassia Withdraws After Racist Texts Targeting Vivek Ramaswamy

Paul Ingrassia, President Donald Trump’s nominee for the Office of Special Counsel, has officially withdrawn his nomination after racist and inflammatory texts came to light. The messages, which surfaced in a Politico report, included a derogatory remark about former Indian-American Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, stating, “Never trust a chinaman or Indian…NEVER.”

Ingrassia, a 30-year-old lawyer serving as White House liaison to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), was slated to testify before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) later this week. However, growing opposition from Republican senators, coupled with controversy over his past conduct, forced him to pull out.

“I will be withdrawing myself from Thursday’s HSGAC hearing to lead the Office of Special Counsel because, unfortunately, I do not have enough Republican votes at this time,” Ingrassia posted on Truth Social and X. A White House official confirmed that Ingrassia is no longer under consideration.

The controversy escalated due to additional offensive texts, where Ingrassia allegedly compared civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. to George Floyd and stated MLK’s holiday should be “eviscerated.” In other messages, he reportedly disparaged Black history month, Juneteenth, and Kwanzaa, citing a “Nazi streak.”

Several Republican senators, including John Thune, Rick Scott, Ron Johnson, and James Lankford, voiced opposition, questioning Ingrassia’s suitability. The nomination had already faced hurdles over prior scrutiny for ties to Holocaust-denying extremist Nick Fuentes and online personality Andrew Tate.

Ingrassia’s lawyer, however, denied the authenticity of the texts, claiming they could have been manipulated or lacked context. In response to the controversy, Ingrassia also sent a letter defending his reputation, stating he has “taken strong initiatives as White House Liaison at DHS to advance Jewish and pro-Israel causes” and asserting he is not anti-Semitic or racist.

Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, argued that mere withdrawal is insufficient, calling on Trump to remove Ingrassia from his current DHS role entirely.

This development marks a significant political setback for Trump’s administration, highlighting the impact of past conduct and social media behavior on confirmation processes. The Paul Ingrassia withdrawal underscores growing sensitivity to racist and offensive remarks in high-profile nominations, emphasizing the role of Senate oversight and bipartisan accountability in vetting candidates.