The College Republicans of America (CRA) has recently come under fire after selecting Kai Schwemer as its new political director. Critics are pointing to Schwemer’s past remarks and associations, particularly his connections to the controversial Groyper movement.
Schwemer, appointed for this position earlier this month, has ties to far-right figure Nick Fuentes and has made various statements that some have labeled anti-Semitic. He hosts a channel on Cozy.Tv, a platform started by Fuentes and Alex Jones, which seems to be growing, although the latest video available dates back to June 2025.
Reportedly, Schwemer featured in a promotional video for Fuentes’ “White Boy Summer” tour in 2021 and was a special guest at Fuentes’ America First Political Action Conference in 2022. In a December appearance on Reawaken USA, he claimed that Raytheon and Boeing have Jewish CEOs, labeling them as “American Zionists” who support U.S. involvement in Israel unconditionally; however, neither CEO is actually Jewish. The CRA responded that Schwemer’s intent was misunderstood and that he was misinformed.
Multiple Jewish organizations, including the ADL and StopAntisemitism, have condemned his appointment due to his controversial history. The Anti-Defamation League’s CEO noted that Fuentes wields considerable influence and often jokes about the Holocaust, while Schwemer has promoted conspiracy theories concerning “Zionists” in the U.S. Liora Rez, from StopAntisemitism, criticized the CRA for endorsing such rhetoric, especially amid rising anti-Semitism in educational institutions.
Schwemer, a student at Brigham Young University, stated that his previous remarks no longer reflect his current beliefs. He expressed that his past should not be taken as indicative of his present attitudes, emphasizing his growth and refinement. While he acknowledges he has used “unnecessarily vulgar or demeaning speech” in the past, he insists his views have evolved since returning from missionary service, though he didn’t provide specifics regarding any changed opinions.
The CRA continues to stand by Schwemer, with the president, Martin Berthao, expressing no regrets about the appointment. He indicated that the organization will not yield to what he termed the “WOKE mob.” Berthao mentioned that they are focusing their efforts on Republican campaigns rather than engaging in divisive rhetoric.
In his statement, Schwemer conveyed determination to move past cancel culture and concentrate on building a better future, stressing that he prefers to spend his time on meaningful legislative efforts instead of controversy.
Interestingly, Schwemer previously criticized Donald Trump’s administration for its handling of the Epstein situation, suggesting skepticism about the government and expressing disappointment in Trump’s evolution.
