Before James Allsup was a burgeoning celebrity of the so-called “alt-right,” traveling the country to promote white nationalism and criticize multiculturalism, he led a takeover of his college’s young Republican organization.

Things “changed dramatically,” when Allsup was elected president of Washington State University’s College Republicans in 2015 according to Jansen VanderMeulen, who graduated in 2016.

“His crew of Republicans were very much more in the mold of the president,” said VanderMeulen. “James imitates the president in his rhetoric. He has very much taken on a Trumpist tone.”

VanderMeulen attended College Republican meetings semiregularly and describes himself as “more conservative than liberal.”

On Saturday, Allsup attended the white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, to document events and deliver a speech in support of the protesters. Images of Allsup and the rally circulated, setting off a barrage of criticism on social media, including demands that the university expel Allsup.

In a video taken by Allsup and subsequently published online, he’s seen walking through a street in Charlotesville with a group of protesters brandishing Confederate flags and yelling obscenities at bystanders.

Allsup calls the Confederate flag a “symbol of heritage”/Eli Francovich, SR. More here.

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