The myth of the young & Republican by Markus Gibbons

When the phrase “Young Republicans” pops up online, one might conjure images of bright-eyed college students, still navigating their political beliefs, making the occasional immature misstep on social media. But a recent wave of online chatter shatters that illusion. These so-called “Young Republicans” are not young. They are not innocently exploring ideology. And they are certainly not experimenting with harmless political curiosity. They are, in fact, men and women well into their thirties, often fully embedded in their careers and communities, who freely espouse a worldview rooted in racism, fascism, and an alarming nostalgia for authoritarianism.

The term “young” in this context has become a camouflage, a way to excuse behavior that should never be tolerated or normalized. JD Vance, a notable figure in the Republican sphere, tried to reassure the public by framing these individuals as nothing more than misguided youngsters making a digital mistake. But the reality is starkly different: these are adults with fully formed ideologies that reject the very principles of democracy. To call them “young” is a misnomer; it is a dangerous euphemism that minimizes the threat of ideologies that are incompatible with a free, pluralistic society.

The danger of these online spaces is not abstract. These are communities where prejudice is normalized, where hatred is coded and amplified, where extremist language is tested and celebrated. They are modern incubators for ideas that have historically led to violence, oppression, and the dismantling of democratic institutions. The members of these groups are not simply venting, they are strategizing, networking, and in some cases, preparing the next generation of far-right activists who have no place in legal, legitimate political discourse.

It is worth emphasizing that these individuals are not naïve or unformed. They have lived long enough to understand the boundaries of decency and legality. Yet, they choose to flirt with ideologies that glorify authoritarian regimes, white supremacy, and exclusionary nationalism. Their posts and conversations online are not the whimsical errors of youth; they are the deliberate acts of adults who are fully aware of the ideological poison they are spreading.

What makes this even more troubling is the veneer of political legitimacy. The labels “Republican” or “conservative” are being used to shield extremism, to legitimize rhetoric that would otherwise be universally condemned. This is not conservatism; it is something far darker. It is the repackaging of ideologies that should have been consigned to history books. And by cloaking it under party identity, it risks polluting political discourse, weakening trust in institutions, and confusing a public that already struggles to distinguish between responsible political debate and outright hate.

Moreover, the social consequences are severe. These individuals, hiding behind the guise of political affiliation, embolden others to adopt similarly extreme viewpoints. They create echo chambers where bigotry is rewarded, not challenged. And while some may argue that this is simply free speech, the reality is that speech has consequences. When adults with platforms, influence, and resources actively normalize fascist thinking, it undermines the very social fabric of democratic society.

There is also a moral argument that cannot be ignored. Democracies thrive on debate, dissent, and disagreement but they collapse under the weight of ideologies that refuse basic human dignity. Adults who openly embrace racial hatred, misogyny, or authoritarianism are making a conscious choice to oppose the values that allow democracy to function. They are no longer “finding themselves” or “testing ideas”; they are taking an active role in dismantling a society built on pluralism and equality.

It is past time for institutions, political parties, and society at large to recognize that this is not a youthful phase or a harmless digital outburst. These are adults, fully aware of their actions, and fully committed to ideologies that threaten the very principles upon which democratic nations are built. No legal political party, no civic institution, and certainly no responsible workplace should provide them with a platform or shield them from accountability.

To call them “young” is a disservice, not just to the public discourse, but to the concept of political engagement itself. It sanitizes extremism, normalizes prejudice, and provides cover for individuals who should be marginalized from legitimate political life. There is a need for clarity, for moral courage, and for an unflinching commitment to the idea that fascist and Nazi ideologies have no place in modern society, not in private chatrooms, not in political offices, not anywhere within the structures of democratic governance.

These “Young Republicans” are neither young nor innocent, nor are they truly representative of the political party they claim to belong to. They are adults wielding ideology like a weapon, and it is society’s responsibility to call it out, name it, and ensure that it is confronted, not dismissed, excused, or ignored. In the end, democracy is not sustained by euphemisms. It is preserved by truth, accountability, and the courage to stand against those who would see it undone.