A Cornell University student, Austin Franco, 19, has intensified his antisemitic rhetoric following an incident where he declined a job interview due to the founder's Jewish faith. Franco has refused to apologize for his remarks and has subsequently published a white supremacist essay and made online comments about 5G cell service.
Franco initially gained attention after an exchange on the college career platform Handshake. Gabe Einhorn, CEO of the tech startup VryfID, shared a screenshot of a message from Franco stating, "Not interested in working for a Jew. Thanks." This comment led to widespread online outrage.
Following the incident, Franco's parents reportedly evicted him from their Virginia home on August 1. His mother, Diana Franco, told the New York Post that her son had fallen under the influence of extremist online content. She added that the family finds his views "morally repugnant" and stated they were not derived from them.
After receiving tens of thousands of dollars from online fundraisers, Franco moved into an apartment in Ithaca, New York. On August 2, he posted on X, formerly Twitter, about experiencing a ringing in his head and a headache, which he attributed to a nearby 5G cell tower array.
Further revealing the extent of his radicalization, Franco published an essay on Substack titled "Natural Hierarchy and a Better Future (Short Thoughts)." The essay, which is nearly 1,700 words long, contains statements such as "every other race admits its own inferiority by way of its reverence for white men and women when it comes to breeding" and alludes to eugenics. The piece also touches on various unrelated topics, including ballroom dancing, contemporary art, and technology.
Franco reportedly remains enrolled at Cornell University, which has condemned his remarks. Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff stated that the university "has an obligation to fiercely defend freedom of speech – even when we find that speech abhorrent." A university spokesperson declined to comment on Franco's specific student status due to federal privacy laws but reiterated the university's condemnation of antisemitism.