U.S. Vice-President JD Vance has rejected criticism of a Young Republican group chat that contained racist remarks, jokes about assault, and casual remarks about gas chambers. Despite bipartisan calls for the removal of those involved, Vance defended the controversial conversations.
According to a report by Politico, members of The Young Republican National Federation, the GOP’s political group for Republicans aged 18 to 40, used derogatory terms like “monkeys” and “the watermelon people” to refer to Black individuals. The chat also included discussions about committing assault against their adversaries and placing political opponents in gas chambers. Politico obtained numerous exchanges from a Telegram chat involving leaders and members of the Young Republican National Federation and its affiliates in New York, Kansas, Arizona, and Vermont, revealing the use of offensive language such as the N-word and a homophobic slur.
The federation issued a call for the individuals involved to resign from their positions, labeling the exchanges as unrepresentative of Republican values. In contrast, Vance dismissed the leaked messages, referring to the outcry as “pearl clutching.”
In response to the inflammatory chat, Vance referenced a previous statement by Jay Jones, the Democratic candidate in Virginia’s attorney general race, where Jones suggested violence against a prominent Republican. Vance compared this to the chat controversy, emphasizing the seriousness of inciting violence compared to offensive remarks made in a group chat.
While Republicans in Vermont, including Gov. Phil Scott, demanded the resignation of state Sen. Sam Douglass following his involvement in the chat, other party members like Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York and Danedri Herbert of the Kansas GOP also called for the implicated individuals to step down from their roles.
Democrats expressed strong condemnation of the chat, with California Gov. Gavin Newsom urging an investigation into the offensive messages, and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer labeling the conversations as “revolting.” New York Governor Kathy Hochul demanded consequences for those involved, advocating for their removal from the party and official positions.
Overall, the controversy surrounding the Young Republican group chat has sparked widespread criticism and calls for accountability from both Republicans and Democrats alike.