GOP House leader’s son is caught doing a Nazi salute in photo

A GOP leader’s school-aged son has been caught on camera giving a Nazi salute while standing next to a vintage German fighter plane, sparking backlash and calls for her resignation.

Elected as representative in the state of Oregon in 2019, Rep. Vikki Breese-Iverson has since issued an apology, along with a photo of a handwritten note from high schooler Alex Iverson – in which the teen insisted the gesture was merely a joke.

A fifth-generation Oregonian, Breese-Iverson, 48, currently serves as the House of Representatives’ minority leader – a position achieved just two years into her political career.

Among those calling for her resignation is The Oregon Diversity Project – a ‘Black femme led group dedicated to providing mutual aid, connection, solidarity, and opportunity to black and indigenous people of color’ in the the state.

The group, like hundreds of others over the weekend, expressed outrage toward the widely seen snap – taken last week at the Erickson Aircraft Collection – insisting the teen was not being punished accordingly due to his high-powered parent.

A GOP leader is facing calls to resign over this photo of her son giving a Nazi salute during a field trip at an Oregon Museum – a gesture both have expressed regret over on social media

Elected as representative in 2019, Breese-Iverson, 48, now serves as the House of Representatives’ minority leader – a position achieved less than two years into her career

She has since issued an apology, along with a photo of a note penned by her son explaining his actions

In the photo in question, Alex, one of the fifth-generation Oregonian rancher’s two sons, is seen proudly mimicking the Third Reich’s notorious greeting -while posing next to a vintage German fighter plane used in WWII.

‘This week, my son was on a field trip at the Erickson Aircraft Collection which hosts a retired Nazi airplane,’ the Prineville rep wrote Saturday as the photo continued to circulate online.

‘Out of extremely poor judgement and without considering the impact this photo would have, he posed in front of the aircraft,’ she went on to explain.

‘My husband and I have been in contact with the school administration about enforcing adequate consequences for his actions, both at school and at home.’

She added: ‘In no way do my husband or I condone these actions, and we apologize to anyone impacted by this image. Attached is an image of his formal apology.’

Her son’s correspondence, meanwhile, expressed a similar sentiment – while sporting questionable grammar and penmanship.

‘When I was a on a feild[sic] trip with World War 2 planes, I walked past a plane with a Nazi symbol on it,’ Alex explained of his actions at the air craft exhibit in Madras.

He added: ‘[I] posed for a photo that my friend took and posted. It was a dumb mistake. I really get that now.’

In terms of an apology, the teen remarked: ‘Doing something bad in the moment without thinking can cause harm. I apologize to anyone that was offended.’

Her son’s handwritten correspondence, meanwhile, expressed a similar sentiment – while sporting some questionable grammar and penmanship

Apart from the joint apologies, Breese-Iverson’s post did not address what sort of disciplinary action her son might face from his school, Crook County High School, which has yet to publicly comment on the controversy

Touted as ‘a small business owner, fifth generation rancher, community leader and mom’ by predecessor Carl Wilson, Breese-Iverson – seen here at left with her husband, sons, and mother members of her family – for decades has been a fixture in the Central Oregon area

Leading the charge for Rep. Vikki Breese-Iverson’s nixing is The Oregon Diversity Project – a ‘Black femme led group dedicated to providing mutual aid, connection, solidarity, and opportunity to black and indigenous people of color’ in the central part of the state

Reports from The Central Oregonian indicate that as recently as last year, Alex played on the school’s golf team. DailyMail.com has reached out to the school, also in Prineville, for comment.

As for the city representative, it remains unclear what her next course of action will be as backlash continues to be felt over her son’s actions – which comes as the US and other countries have recorded a rise in instances of antisemitism in recent years.

In a Saturday Facebook post, the aforementioned Diversity Project – a nonprofit org started in 2020 – said it was demanding Breese-Iverson´s immediate resignation over the photo, which was posted to Snapchat.

The group -which is dedicated to providing solidarity and opportunity to clack, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian and all people of color in Central Oregon, according to its website – also sensationally claimed that officials in Crook County ‘avoided handing down discipline’ toward the youngster.

While not specifying how they came to that conclusion, the group said they ‘have reason to believe that the student wasn’t disciplined because of his mother and “who” she is.’

Touted as ‘a small business owner, fifth generation rancher, community leader and mom’ by predecessor Carl Wilson, Breese-Iverson for decades has been a fixture in the Central Oregon area.

She is wed to Bryan Iverson, and prior to becoming a politician was a realtor for the more than 19 years – an occupation she has yet to forfeit despite her meteoric political rise over the past two years.

Prior to becoming a politician in her hometown of Prineville, the rep was a realtor for the more than 19 years – an occupation she has yet to forfeit despite her meteoric political rise over the past two years

She still operates several businesses in her native Prineville – including Windermere Real Estate, where she still serves as managing principal broker realtor.

The couple live on Breese-Iverson’s family ranch, where she grew up, along with their two sons

The couple still own and operate own several businesses in Breese-Iverson’s native Prineville – including Windermere Real Estate, where she still serves as managing principal broker realtor.

The couple live on Breese-Iverson’s family ranch, where she grew up, along with their two sons – Alex and younger brother Brit.

Back in 2019, after being elected to represent the city where she grew up, House Republican Wilson – then the House Leader – welcomed Breese-Iverson with songs of praise.

‘Vikki’s roots in Central Oregon are deep and wide,’ the elected official said in a statement in August of that year. ‘As a small business owner, fifth generation rancher, community leader and mom, she brings a wealth of valuable experience to Salem.

‘House Republicans are delighted to welcome Vikki to our caucus and look forward to serving with her.’

Just over two years later, Breese-Iverson found herself the House’s minority leader – during which time the amount of campaign money flowing to the political strategy firm her husband owns increased dramatically.

Collectively, political action committees have donated $193,000 with Iverson Media Group this year alone, with friends of Breese-Iverson offering a further $47,000 over the past two years – making the total spending with her husband’s firm at $250,000.

Much of that comes from committees that Breese-Iverson controls directly – or indirectly because she also funds House campaigns as caucus leader.

Oregon ethics laws prohibit elected officials from using their positions for private benefit – ‘if the financial gain or avoidance of financial detriment would not otherwise be available but for the public official’s holding of the official position or office.’

‘That sure doesn’t smell right,’ Kate Titus, executive director of the watchdog group Common Cause of Oregon, told the Williamette Weekly late last year of the arrangement that has seen hundreds of thousands of dollars worth funds would from Breese-Iverson funneled into her husband’s firm, which buys ads and performs other campaign services.

Breese-Iverson, however, has maintained she has done nothing illegal, telling the paper in an email: ‘I do not believe ethics laws were violated.’