JD Vance dismisses bipartisan outrage over racist and offensive Young Republican group chat

By MEG KINNARD The masses release of a Young Republican group chat that included racist language jokes about rape and flippant commentary on gas chambers prompted bipartisan calls for those involved to be removed from or resign their positions Related Articles Journalists turn in access badges exit Pentagon rather than agree to new reporting rules Judge temporarily blocks the Trump administration from firing workers during the cabinet shutdown Democratic governors including Colorado s form a society strength alliance in rebuke of Trump administration Democrats say they won t be intimidated by Trump s threats as the shutdown enters a third week Federal workers endure financial strain and fear layoffs as the authorities shutdown drags on The Young Republican National Federation the GOP s political organization for Republicans between and called for those involved to step down from the organization The group described the exchanges first revealed by Politico as unbecoming of any Republican Republican Vice President JD Vance however has weighed in several times to speak out against what he characterized as pearl clutching over the leaked messages Politico obtained months of exchanges from a Telegram conversation between leaders and members of the Young Republican National Federation and particular of its affiliates in New York Kansas Arizona and Vermont Here s a rundown of reaction to the inflammatory group chat in which the operatives and officers involved openly worried that their comments might be leaked even as they continued their conversation Vance After Politico s initial review on Tuesday Vance posted on X a screen grab from text messages in which Jay Jones the Democratic candidate for Virginia s attorney general race suggested that a prominent Republican get two bullets to the head This is far worse than anything announced in a college group chat and the guy who stated it could become the AG of Virginia Vance wrote on Tuesday I refuse to join the pearl clutching when powerful people call for political violence Jones subsequently revealed he took full responsibility for his comments and offered a citizens apology to Todd Gilbert who then was speaker of Virginia s House of Delegates Vance reiterated his initial sentiment Wednesday on The Charlie Kirk Show podcast saying when demanded about the reporting that a person seriously wishing for political violence and political assassination is times worse than what a bunch of young people a bunch of kids say in a group chat however offensive it might be Vance announced that he grew up in a different era where the bulk of what I the stupid things that I did as a teenager and as a young adult they re not on the internet The father of three revealed he would caution 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 chosen scumbag is going to leak it in an effort to try to cause you harm or cause your family harm I really don t want to us to grow up in a country where a kid telling a stupid joke telling a very offensive stupid joke is cause to ruin their lives Vance noted Republicans Other Republicans demanded more immediate intervention Republican legislative leaders in Vermont along with Gov Phil Scott also a Republican called for the resignation of state Sen Sam Douglass revealed to be a participant in the chat A joint announcement from the GOP lawmakers termed the comments unacceptable and deeply disturbing Saying she was absolutely appalled to learn about the alleged comments made by leaders of the New York State Young Republicans Rep Elise Stefanik of New York called for those involved to step down from their positions Danedri Herbert chair of the Kansas GOP mentioned the remarks do not reflect the beliefs of Republicans and certainly not of Kansas Republicans at large In a announcement posted to X on Tuesday the Young Republican National Federation stated it was appalled by the informed messages and calling for those involved to resign from their positions within the organization Young Republican leaders revealed the behavior was disgraceful unbecoming of any Republican and stands in direct opposition to the values our movement represents Democrats Democrats have been more uniform in their condemnation On Wednesday California Gov Gavin Newsom wrote to House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer asking for an inquiry into the vile and offensive text messages which he called the definition of conduct that can create a hostile and discriminatory surroundings that violates civil rights laws Speaking on the Senate floor Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York on Tuesday described the chat as revolting calling for Republicans including Trump and Vance to condemn these comments swiftly and unequivocally Questioned about the reporting New York Gov Kathy Hochul called the exchanges vile and called for consequences for those involved Kick them out of the party Take away their official roles Stop using them as campaign advisers Hochul mentioned There demands to be consequences This bulls - has to stop Associated Press writer Michelle L Price contributed to this assessment