A defamation lawsuit has erupted between prominent MAGA figure Lucian Wintrich and the New York Young Republican Club (NYYRC) after he branded its 2025 annual gala "the worst event they've ever thrown." The club is suing Wintrich, 38, for defamation, breach of contract and violating a non-disclosure agreement, seeking $6 million (£4.7 million) in damages, in a row that has become the talk of young Republican circles in New York and comes at an awkward time for the NYYRC ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

Wintrich, known for founding the Twinks4Trump art show and previously working as a White House correspondent, claims tables bought by guests were resold and objects to controversial attendees such as influencer Empath Chan, who wore blackface for Halloween. The NYYRC, led by president Stefano Forte, denies these claims and issued Wintrich a cease-and-desist letter before removing him as press chairman; he responded with insulting social media posts about club members and its lawyer. Wintrich has also accused Forte of funnelling 15% of donations to a company that paid him back, an allegation the club's lawyer, Mark Luccarelli, dismissed as "invented from thin air," while Wintrich separately parked an LED billboard truck outside a club event in July to mock Forte and the NYYRC's branding.