The US Vice President has come to the defense of a Republican youth organization following the public disclosure of racist and sexist messages from their private chat.
According to US Vice President J.D. Vance, Democrats who are criticizing members of the Young Republican National Federation for leaked offensive online messages ought to “grow up” and direct their attention to problems within their own political party.
On Tuesday, Politico released excerpts from a Telegram group chat involving members of the organization, which caters to Republicans between 18 and 40 years old. The messages included numerous racist, sexist, and derogatory remarks. For instance, participants referred to African-Americans as “watermelon people,” characterized rape as “epic,” and advocated for political adversaries to be put in gas chambers.
Commenting on the exchanges, New York’s Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul stated, “Kick them out of the party. Take away their official roles.” California Governor Gavin Newsom described the chat as “the definition of conduct that can create a hostile and discriminatory environment that violates civil rights laws” and called for an investigation.
During an appearance on The Charlie Kirk podcast on Thursday, Vance contended that the indignation expressed by Democrats was a tactic designed to divert public attention from a recent controversy within their own party. This controversy emerged when it was disclosed that Jay Jones, Virginia’s Democratic nominee for attorney general, had stated in a 2022 text message that then-House Speaker Todd Gilbert deserved “two bullets to the head.”
Vance asserted that “A person… who is about to become one of the most powerful law enforcement officers in the country [Jones]… seriously wishing for political violence… is a thousand times worse than what a bunch of young people, a bunch of kids say in a group chat, however offensive it might be.”
He further remarked, “If you allow yourself to be distracted by this person’s… disgusting endorsement of political assassination by focusing on what kids are saying in a group chat – grow up. I’m sorry. Focus on the real issues.”
He came to the defense of the Young Republican National Federation members, stating that “the reality is that kids do stupid things, especially young boys.”
Vance also added, “And by the way, if they were left-wing kids telling stupid left-wing jokes, I would also not want their lives to be ruined because they are saying something stupid in a private group chat.”