By SpringNewsNG – February 19, 2025

New York, USA – Kaya Walker, the former president of NYU’s College Republican club, has broken her silence after resigning in the wake of controversy over comments she made about Barron Trump. Walker, who describes herself as a dedicated conservative, says her remarks were taken out of context and that she now regrets stepping down.

A Challenging Environment for Conservatives

Walker, a senior at New York University, has long been an advocate for conservative values on a campus where she says right-leaning students often face hostility. Despite those challenges, she worked to expand the College Republican club, building it into a more active presence at NYU. However, her tenure ended abruptly on February 17 after AF Post, a conservative news profile on X (formerly Twitter), surfaced a quote from a recent Vanity Fair article in which she referred to Barron Trump as an “oddity on campus.”

Walker’s Explanation and the Fallout

Walker insists her words were misunderstood. As a commuter student herself, she explained that she was simply commenting on Barron’s unique position at NYU—living at his family’s Upper East Side residence rather than in student housing in Greenwich Village. She maintains that her statement was not intended as an insult but rather as an observation about his limited presence on campus.

Despite her clarification, the College Republicans of America (CRA) advised her to step down. “I didn’t think my words were controversial, but suddenly, I was at the center of a firestorm,” Walker told The Post. “I was told my resignation would be best for both my reputation and the organization, but I regret it now. This was cancel culture in action.”

Backlash and Support

Following AF Post’s viral tweet, Walker and her family faced a wave of criticism and even threats. Meanwhile, the CRA distanced itself from the controversy, stating that her comments did not align with the organization’s values. In an unexpected move, the CRA extended an invitation to Barron Trump to join the NYU chapter, a decision that some saw as an attempt to smooth over tensions.

Will Donahue, the national president of the CRA, confirmed that Walker was advised to resign but emphasized that the organization valued her contributions. “We felt that stepping down was in her best interest and that of the club,” Donahue said.

Despite her regret, Walker says she holds no ill will toward Barron Trump and understands that his experience at NYU comes with unique challenges. “I empathize with him,” she said. “I just wish people had taken the time to understand what I actually meant.”

As debates over free speech, political bias, and cancel culture continue to rage on college campuses, Walker’s story has become yet another flashpoint in the ongoing cultural divide in American academia.