TheNewsNightpanel on CNN confronted Republican strategist Scott Jennings over whether the Trump administration has shown moral clarity after leaked racist and antisemitic messages from aides. Adam Mockler accused Jennings of lying as he pressed whether Paul Ingrassia — who wrote he had a "Nazi streak" in group-chat messages — remained in the administration. Ingrassia’s OSC nomination was withdrawn, but he was later named acting general counsel at the GSA, a move critics say normalizes hateful rhetoric.
“You’re Lying Right Now!” — Scott Jennings Cornered on CNN Over Trump Aide’s ‘Nazi Streak’ Messages
Paul Ingrassia at the White House in June. / Alex Brandon/AP
Republican strategist Scott Jennings was sharply challenged on CNN after a heated exchange about polarizing figures in the MAGA movement and what, if any, moral clarity the Trump administration demonstrates.
Panel Clash Over Leaked Group-Chat Messages
TheNewsNightpanel convened Monday to dissect internal MAGA tensions that recently surfaced at a Turning Point USA event in Arizona, where prominent conservatives traded barbs. The conversation shifted to leaked Young Republican group-chat messages published in October that included racial slurs and antisemitic references, prompting renewed debate about standards in the Republican Party.
Adam Mockler of MeidasTouch pressed the panel on the administration’s response. He singled out Paul Ingrassia, a 30-year-old Trump loyalist whose OSC nomination was withdrawn after Politico published messages in which he used racial slurs, boasted of having a "Nazi streak," and suggested Martin Luther King Jr. Day be "tossed into the seventh circle of hell." Mockler argued Vice President J.D. Vance’s measured response — condemning the messages while saying "kids will be kids" — showed the administration could not credibly claim moral leadership.
Ingrassia withdrew his nomination to lead the Office of Special Counsel in October. / U.S. Department of Homeland Security
"He’s a part of the administration. And you know that. You’re lying right now," Mockler told Jennings, pressing him on whether Ingrassia remained in government service.
Jennings responded that he did not know Ingrassia’s current status on air, prompting Mockler to accuse him of dodging the question. The exchange escalated as Mockler demanded whether Jennings condemned Ingrassia and whether President Trump should fire him. Jennings said he condemned "anything approximating having a Nazi streak," while the panel traded sharp back-and-forths.
Where Things Stand
Two days after the messages were published, Ingrassia’s OSC nomination was withdrawn. However, three weeks later the White House named him acting general counsel at the General Services Administration — a development critics cited as evidence that antisemitic and hateful rhetoric has been normalized or excused within some circles of power.
Former Ohio state Senator Nina Turner interjected that both major parties have problems "coddling bigots," underscoring that the debate about standards of conduct extends beyond a single administration or political faction.
Context: In the leaked messages, Ingrassia allegedly wrote phrases such as, "Blacks behave that way because that’s their natural state… You can’t change them," and, "Proof: all of Africa is a s--thole, and will always be that way." These remarks prompted public outcry and the subsequent withdrawal of his nomination.
