Campus Spat Over Antisemitism, Israel at University of Florida Highlights Growing Rift in Young Republican Circles Nationwide

The University of Florida no longer hosts a chapter of the College Republicans after the Florida Federation of College Republicans asked that the existing group on campus be disbanded as punishment for the antisemitic actions of its leaders, a move that has ignited a firestorm over which organization actually represents the GOP on the Gainesville campus. The request to bar the group came after a self-proclaimed Zionist and investigative journalist, Sloan Rachmuth, shared photographs on X of the leader of the Florida group giving a Nazi salute. She said she found the image on a gaming community platform, Guilded, in December and sent it to the FBI. The chatroom that shared the image on the site has since folded. The Florida state-wide federation says it shared Ms. Rachmuth’s concerns, and labeled the Gainesville group’s leadership antisemitic and demonstrating a “pattern of conduct” that violates its “rules and values.” The university itself also issued a statement on Saturday saying that it supported the federation’s “decisive action” to address conduct that is “antithetical to its principles.”“The University of Florida has emphatically supported its Jewish community and remains committed to preventing and addressing antisemitism and other forms of discrimination and harassment that are threatening and disruptive to our students and to the teaching, research and expressive activities of the campus community,” reads the statement.The disbanding of the University of Florida club has become a flashpoint spotlighting the feud within the Republican Party over its leadership, “cancel culture,” and the party’s widely divergent perspectives on Israel and Jews in America. The federation, founded in 2022, claims to be the largest College Republican organization. Its supportive position toward Israel and vocal criticism of antisemitism puts it at odds with a growing majority of Republicans under 45, who say they would prefer a 2028 Republican presidential candidate who does not want to fund Israel’s weapons program or renew the current 10-year, $38 billion dollar munitions deal between the United States and Israel.Citing the federation’s swift decision, Ms. Rachmuth posted that she was “thrilled to see what this amazing REPUBLICAN group will do on campus.” However, members of the University of Florida group and the former president of the College Republicans of America, William Branson Donahue, said that the federation isn’t in charge of the organization. Instead, the University of Florida College Republicans are members of The College Republicans of America of America, a rival to the federation founded in 2023. “CRA is furious that a rival organization has lied to the University of Florida to terminate our chapter. Completely unacceptable @cr_national —that’s low, even for you guys,” he wrote.Mr. Donahue, who has had a very public and ongoing spat with Ms. Rachmuth, also called her a “nasty woman” intent on undermining Republicans while claiming to be one. “Incredible that the vitriol pointed at @uscollegegop is coming from a left wing infiltrator whose goal is to erode support for President Trump. CRAZY,” wrote Mr. Donahue. In response, Ms. Rachmuth, who earned a rebuke from Vice President JD Vance in November for claiming Tucker Carlson’s son, Buckley, who works for the vice president, is a supporter of Nazi apologist and white nationalist Nick Fuentes, called the entire College Republicans of America organization antisemitic. “This is a made up front group meant to trick students in America into thinking they represent actual Republicans,” she posted. The College Republicans of America claim 280 active chapters, roughly four times that of the federation. Neither organization is associated with the College Republican National Committee, founded in 1892 but declining in influence as state affiliates left to join the other organizations. The deactivation of the Florida group followed Republican Florida gubernatorial candidate James Fishback’s address on campus days earlier. Mr. Fishback, who has been critical of U.S.-Israeli ties and has also praised Mr. Fuentes, said the group was shuttered because of his appearance. He said he is going to file an amicus brief in support of the College Republicans of America in a First Amendment lawsuit against the school. “Whether a group is left or right, pro-Palestinian or pro-Israel, religious or secular, we must fully defend their free speech. I will as Governor,” he posted.Florida Senator Rick Scott, on the other hand, praised the university for its decision. “Antisemitism has no place in the Republican Party, higher education or our country. Grateful to @UF for working with the FFCR to stand with Jewish students and resolve this quickly,” he said.The Florida Federation of College Republicans says it is going to reorganize the University of Florida group and ask the college to reinstate it after it identifies new leadership. The school said it will reactivate the local chapter once those leaders are named.

Campus Spat Over Antisemitism, Israel at University of Florida Highlights Growing Rift in Young Republican Circles Nationwide

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