U.S. President Donald Trump reacts during an event to make announcements on fertility treatment coverage, in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., October 16, 2025. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
President Donald Trump's nominee to a top federal post once railed against commemorating African American holidays and used racial slurs in newly leaked text messages.
Politico reported Monday that Paul Ingrassia – who Trump tapped to lead the Office of Special Counsel (an independent office not part of the Department of Justice) — confided to fellow Republicans in a private text message thread that he wanted the U.S. to stop celebrating Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, saying it should be "tossed in the seventh circle of hell where it belongs." He also used an Italian slur for Black people in one of the texts.
"We're making Kwanzaa illegal in the next Trump admin," Ingrassia wrote in one message. "No moulignon holidays from Kwanza[sic] to mlk jr day to black history month to Juneteenth."
"Every single one needs to be eviscerated," he added.
When one member of the chat quipped that Ingrassia belonged in Germany's World War II-era fascist regime alongside "Ubergruppenfuhrer Steve Bannon," Ingrassia responded by admitting he did have a "streak" associated with those beliefs. Group members also acknowledged that Ingrassia was a fan of white nationalist influencer Nick Fuentes and his "Live from America" show on the far-right YouTube alternative Rumble, writing: "New LFA show coming starring Nick Fuentes & Paul Adolf Ingrassia." The Trump nominee responded with "lmao."
Politico reported that Ingrassia went to a rally Fuentes organized in 2024, and lamented that it was an "awful decision" for Turning Point USA (the group founded by slain MAGA activist Charlie Kirk) to eject Fuentes from one of its events. The outlet also linked him to misogynistic influencer Andrew Tate, who has been accused of human trafficking in Romania, and suggested that Hamas' October 7, 2023 attack on Israel was a "psyop." The Washington Post reported that Ingrassia once praised Russian President Vladimir Putin for "standing up for traditional Christianity and Western values."
If confirmed to lead the OSC, Ingrassia would be tasked with protecting federal workers, investigates complaints of retaliation against government whistleblowers and enforces the Hatch Act (which prohibits officials using their government offices for partisan political activities).
Click here to read Politico's report in full.
From Your Site Articles
- 'They hate this': GOP strategist reveals why Trump's new issue 'works against Republicans' ›
- We're all afraid of Trump's retribution — but don't be drawn into remaining silent ›
- John Oliver smacks down Holocaust-denying GOP candidate and 'racist' Trump ›
Related Articles Around the Web