A Cornell University student has defended remarks in which he refused a job interview with Jewish founders, stating on a broadcast program that he would not work for Jewish employers due to what he described as negative personal experiences with Jewish people.
Austin Franco, a member of Cornell's Class of 2028, became widely known after telling the Jewish co-founders of real estate tech startup VryfID that he was "not interested in working for a Jew." During an appearance on the July 28 episode of Piers Morgan Uncensored, Franco maintained his position, comparing it to avoiding short people and invoking freedom of association. Morgan responded by calling Franco "irredeemably awful" And ended the interview after Franco declined to apologize.
Franco has characterized Israel's actions as a "genocide" And used that assertion to support a broader claim about Jewish people. He has also stated that Nick Fuentes' "America First" Ideology represents the future direction for his generation.
VryfID co-founder Gabe Einhorn thanked Morgan for the confrontation and said he intends to establish a support network for young Jewish entrepreneurs encountering similar hostility.
Cornell conducted an investigation into the original incident as a bias complaint. Franco subsequently stated that his parents were requiring him to leave home due to the controversy and initiated a fundraising campaign.
Observers have noted the spread of comparable views on social media platforms, where algorithms frequently promote extreme content. Critics have flagged such antisemitism as frequently leading to broader anti-capitalist and anti-American viewpoints, while portraying traditional U.S. Allies negatively and certain foreign regimes more favorably.