JD Vance sought to downplay the revelation that leaders of a group called Young Republicans exchanged hundreds of racist and sexist text messages — including one in which the rape was called “epic” and another in which someone wrote “I love Hitler” — as youthful indiscretions.
Vance, speaking on a new episode of the Charlie Kirk Show, the podcast run by colleagues of the late conservative activist, suggested that the participants in the leaked chats were much younger than they actually are. Some participants are barely younger than the 41-year-old vice president.
“The reality is kids do stupid things, especially young boys,” Vance said. “They tell bold, offensive jokes. That’s what kids do. And I really don’t want us to grow up in a country where a kid who tells a stupid joke – a very offensive and stupid joke – is likely to ruin their life.”
Politico obtained months of exchanges from a Telegram conversation between leaders and members of the Young Republican National Federation and some of its affiliates in New York, Kansas, Arizona and Vermont.
Mother Jones reports that public records indicate that eight of the 11 Republican operatives who took part in the offensive conversation appear to be between 24 and 35 years old.
The revelations sparked bipartisan calls for those involved to be removed from office or resign.
The National Federation of Young Republicans, the GOP political organization for Republicans ages 18 to 40, called on those involved to step down from the organization. The group called the exchanges “unworthy of any Republican.”
Vance, however, chastised Democrats and the media for paying too much attention to “what a group of young people, a group of kids, say in a group chat, no matter how offensive it is.”
He suggested that the Republicans’ racist texts distracted from offensive texts sent by a Democratic candidate for Virginia attorney general, Jay Jones, who joked that he would rather kill a fellow Republican than Hitler or Pol Pot.
Jones has since said he takes “full responsibility” for his comments and issued a public apology to Todd Gilbert, who was then speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates.
Vance expressed irritation at people who he said allowed themselves to be distracted from the Democrat’s “incredible support for political violence…by focusing on what kids are saying in a group chat.”
“Grow up,” the vice president told those who are more concerned about racism in his party than jokes about violence in the other party. “I’m sorry, focus on the real issues, don’t focus on what the kids are saying in group chats.”
Vance said he grew up in a different era where “most of what I, the stupid things I did as a teenager and as a young adult, are not found on the Internet.”
The father of three said he would warn his own children: “Especially my boys, don’t put things on the internet, like, be careful with what you post. If you put something in a group chat, assume that some bastard is going to put it out there in order to try to harm you or your family.”
“I really don’t want us to grow up in a country where a kid who tells a stupid joke, who tells a very offensive and stupid joke, risks ruining their life,” Vance said.
Other Republicans demanded more immediate intervention. Republican legislative leaders in Vermont, along with Gov. Phil Scott — also a Republican — called for the resignation of Sam Douglass, a state senator, who was revealed to be a participant in the conversation.
Saying she was “absolutely appalled to learn of the alleged comments made by the leaders of the Young Republicans of New York State,” Congresswoman Elise Stefanik of New York called on those involved to resign from their positions. Danedri Herbert, chairman of the Kansas Republican Party, said the remarks “do not reflect the beliefs of Republicans and certainly not those of Kansas Republicans as a whole.”
Democrats have been more uniform in their condemnation. On Wednesday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom wrote to James Comer, chairman of the House Oversight Committee, to request an investigation into the “vile and offensive text messages,” which he called “the definition of conduct that may create a hostile and discriminatory environment that violates civil rights laws.”
Speaking on the Senate floor, New York Democratic leader Chuck Schumer on Tuesday called the discussion “revolting,” calling on Republicans, including Trump and Vance, to “quickly and unequivocally condemn these comments.”
Asked about the report, New York Governor Kathy Hochul called the exchanges “despicable” and called for consequences for those involved.
“Expel them from the party. Take away their official roles. Stop using them as campaign advisers,” Hochul said. “There have to be consequences. This bullshit has to stop.”
