Vance Defends Young Republicans’ Racist Texts, Claims They’re Just “Kids”
A growing controversy surrounding deeply offensive and bigoted text messages exchanged by young Republican leaders has drawn criticism, but Vice President JD Vance has downplayed the severity of the situation, attributing the messages to the immaturity of “kids.” The texts, reported by Politico on Tuesday and further analyzed by Mother Jones, reveal extensive use of racist, antisemitic, and homophobic slurs among the group.
The messages, exchanged between January and mid-August of this year, involved 11 young GOP leaders across four states. While Vance attempts to frame the participants as youthful and prone to “edgy” jokes, Mother Jones’ investigation reveals that eight of the 11 individuals are between 24 and 35 years old, challenging the narrative that these were simply the actions of children.
The content of the texts is deeply disturbing. William Hendrix, vice chair of the Kansas Young Republicans, repeatedly used racial slurs, while Bobby Walker, then vice chair of the New York State Young Republicans, referred to rape as “epic.” Peter Giunta, former chair of the New York State Young Republicans, even wrote that “everyone that votes no is going to the gas chamber.” These are not isolated incidents, but rather represent a pattern of consistently bigoted language within the group.
Following the publication of the Politico story, numerous Republican politicians and organizations condemned the messages. The National Young Republicans group labeled the language “vile and inexcusable,” calling for the participants’ resignation from leadership roles. State Republican parties in New York and Kansas also issued statements of condemnation, as did Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), who described the texts as “appalled.”
However, Vance took a markedly different approach. Speaking on “The Charlie Kirk Show” on Wednesday, he dismissed the outrage, stating, “By focusing on what kids are saying in a group chat—grow up! I’m sorry…Focus on the real issues. Don’t focus on what kids say in group chats.” He continued, arguing that “kids do stupid things, especially young boys—they tell edgy, offensive jokes. That’s what kids do.”
This defense is undermined by the fact that the participants are, in many cases, fully grown adults. Mother Jones’ research confirms the ages of eight participants, ranging from 24 to 35. Samuel Douglass, a 27-year-old state senator in Vermont, was also part of the chat, having reportedly made a disparaging remark about a woman’s hygiene. Vermont Republican Gov. Phil Scott has since called for Douglass to resign, and Douglass has issued an apology.
The fallout from the leaked texts has already begun. Hendrix lost his job as a communications assistant for Kansas’ Republican Attorney General Kris Kobach after the texts came to light. Joe Maligno, 35, previously general counsel for the New York State Young Republicans, also lost his position with the New York State Unified Court System. Peter Giunta, characterized by Politico as “the most prominent voice in the chat spreading racist messages,” lost his job with New York Assemblymember Mike Reilly.
Vance’s attempt to minimize the situation extends beyond simply mischaracterizing the participants’ ages. He also suggested they were unfairly targeted, advising his children to avoid posting anything online that could be leaked and used against them. “But the reality is that kids do stupid things,” he said, “And I really don’t want us to grow up in a country where a kid telling a stupid joke…is cause to ruin their lives.”
This stance is particularly noteworthy given the recent actions of some within the Republican party, who have actively campaigned for the firing and punishment of individuals they deemed insufficiently supportive of assassinated MAGA influencer Charlie Kirk. This apparent double standard highlights the selective application of “cancel culture” within the party.
As the controversy continues to unfold, the incident raises serious questions about the values and beliefs of the rising generation within the Republican party. The leaked texts reveal a disturbing undercurrent of bigotry and intolerance, and Vance’s attempt to downplay the situation only serves to exacerbate the problem. The incident underscores the need for a serious reckoning within the party and a clear condemnation of hate speech and discrimination.
Here is a link to the Twitter post featuring Vance’s comments: https://twitter.com/BulwarkOnline/status/1713884999999999999.
“Hitlergate wasn’t about kids, and JD Vance knows it—or should now.”
