Trump nominee Paul Ingrassia to lead federal watchdog withdraws after offensive text messages were revealed
On Monday, Politico revealed alleged text chats of Ingrassia where he described himself as having “a Nazi streak” at times and wrote Martin Luther King Jr. holiday should be “tossed into the seventh circle of hell.”
October 22, 2025 05:40 AM IST
First published on: Oct 22, 2025 at 05:39 AM IST
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Paul Ingrassia arrives before Trump speaks during a summer soiree on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/ File)
US President Donald Trump’s nominee, Paul Ingrassia, to lead a federal watchdog agency has withdrawn from his candidature on Tuesday evening, following a report published in Politico that revealed his alleged racist text messages, wherein Ingrassia described himself as having a “Nazi streak.”
Ingrassia, who was nominated to lead the Office of Special Counsel, was scheduled to have his confirmation hearing before the Senate panel on Thursday. In a post on X, he confirmed his withdrawal from the nomination to lead the Special Counsel’s office saying, “I do not have enough Republican votes at this time.”
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Announcing his decision, Ingrassia wrote, “I will be withdrawing myself from Thursday’s HSGAC hearing to lead the Office of Special Counsel because unfortunately I do not have enough Republican votes at this time.”
I will be withdrawing myself from Thursday’s HSGAC hearing to lead the Office of Special Counsel because unfortunately I do not have enough Republican votes at this time.
I appreciate the overwhelming support that I have received throughout this process and will continue to…
Ingrassia further added, “I appreciate the overwhelming support that I have received throughout this process and will continue to serve President Trump and this administration to Make America Great Again!”
The announcement came after Senate Majority Leader John Thune called on the White House to pull the nomination. The Republican-controlled Senate has shown little interest in challenging Trump nominees and his agenda but in a rare sign of opposition, Thune remarked that Ingrassia’s nomination be pulled back, Reuters reported.
On Monday, Politico revealed alleged text chats of Ingrassia where he described himself as having “a Nazi streak” at times and wrote Martin Luther King Jr. holiday should be “tossed into the seventh circle of hell.” In another racist remark, Ingrassia had said that “Never trust a Chinaman or Indian.”
On Monday night, Senate Majority Leader Thune told reporters, “He’s not going to pass,” about Ingrassia, while his office confirmed that he has called on the White House to withdraw the nomination.
Ingrassia currently works as President Trump’s White House Liaison for the Department of Homeland Security. He was nominated by Trump in May to head the Office of Special Counsel.
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Paul Ingrassia arrives before Trump speaks during a summer soiree on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/ File) 
