Sacramento, CA – California gubernatorial candidate Kyle Langford has ignited a firestorm of controversy after posting an image of the Auschwitz concentration camp on social media platform X, captioned "My 0% unemployment plan." The post, made on July 27, 2025, drew immediate and severe backlash, including a sharp rebuke from the Auschwitz Memorial. Prominent anti-communist figure James Lindsay subsequently retweeted Langford's controversial post, adding the stark commentary, "Never Again is now."
Langford's post featured a photo of the infamous gates of the former Nazi death camp, accompanied by the provocative and widely criticized caption. The Republican candidate's statement was swiftly condemned by numerous individuals and organizations for its profound insensitivity and historical disregard. The Auschwitz Memorial Museum issued a strong statement, asserting, "The instrumentalisation of the tragedy of all those imprisoned and murdered in the German Nazi concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz for political messaging is a profound moral failure. Auschwitz is not a prop."
James Lindsay, known for his anti-communist activism and critiques of critical theory, retweeted Langford's post with his own concise but impactful message. Lindsay's "Never Again is now" phrase typically refers to preventing future genocides and atrocities, aligning with his broader ideological fight against totalitarian systems. His retweet, however, has been interpreted in various ways, from a condemnation of Langford's rhetoric to a broader warning against the resurgence of dangerous ideologies.
This incident is not Langford's first foray into controversial statements. The California gubernatorial hopeful has previously garnered attention for contentious remarks, including a suggestion to force immigrant women living in the country illegally to marry American "incels" to avoid deportation. Such statements have consistently placed him at the center of public debate and criticism.
The widespread condemnation highlights the enduring sensitivity surrounding the Holocaust and the use of its imagery in political discourse. Critics argue that Langford's post trivializes immense suffering and demonstrates a disturbing lack of historical understanding, while his supporters contend that his statements are taken out of context or intended to be provocative. The incident underscores the volatile nature of political rhetoric on social media and the immediate global reach of controversial content.