On Sunday, Kaya Walker announced she was resigning as New York University (NYU) chapter president of the College Republicans of America (CRA).
Walker had described President Donald Trump’s 18-year-old son Barron, a student at the university, as “sort of like an oddity on campus” during an interview with Vanity Fair magazine. This was published on February 12, sparking a conservative backlash.
Newsweek contacted Walker, via the New York University CRA chapter, NYU and the CRA for comment via email on Tuesday outside of regular office hours.
Why It Matters
Barron Trump is the president’s youngest son and only child with Melania Trump, the current first lady. The response from the national CRA, calling Walker’s remarks “inappropriate,” demonstrates the reverence the Trump family enjoys within the American conservative movement.
What To Know
Walker was interviewed by Vanity Fair for an article about Barron’s time at NYU, which he joined in September 2024 to study business. He told the publication that Barron was “sort of like an oddity on campus. He goes to class, he goes home.” On Monday, the national CRA released a statement describing Walker’s comments as “inappropriate,” and announcing she had resigned as chapter president the previous day.
According to her profile on the NYU Arts & Science department website, Walker is studying for a B.A. in International Relations and French. She is taking part in an accelerated degree program, meaning she can take graduate classes at NYU’s Institute of French Studies as a senior.
As a student, Walker spent two periods studying abroad, first in Prague and then Paris, and recently completed a summer internship with the Bronx District Attorney’s Office.
Walker’s profile states she is “fascinated by cross-cultural exchange and is particularly interested in the cultivation of Francophone culture in geographically insular contexts, most particularly in the Pacific, the English Channel and the Caribbean, where her family is from.”
KEVIN LAMARQUE/POOL/AFP/GETTY/New York University
She has a dog named Sparta and spends her free time gardening, going on long walks and watching documentaries. Walker plans to pursue a career in law after leaving NYU.
It was announced that Walker had been elected as president of the NYU CRA branch in May 2024.
Walker does not appear to have active accounts on social-media platforms Facebook, Instagram and X. Until recently, she had a LinkedIn profile, but this was deleted.
What People Are Saying
In its press release, the CRA said: “We have been made aware of a statement made by the NYU chapter President that does not align with the values and principles upheld by our organization.
“Though Vanity Fair and The Independent unfairly framed what was said, upon review, we found it to be inappropriate. The NYU chapter President submitted her resignation last night.”
CRA President Will Donahue said: “Barron Trump represents the future of the conservative movement, and we would be honored to have him join College Republicans of America.
“Strong leadership is built on resilience, courage, and the humility to rise above petty hostility—qualities that Barron had already demonstrated. We invite Barron to join us in shaping the future of our party.”
What Happens Next
It remains to be seen whether either the Trump family or New York University choose to comment on the controversy. The dispute demonstrates the degree of control President Trump enjoys over the Republican Party, and is likely to make conservatives even more reluctant to criticize any of his family members.
