Vice President J.D. Vance is not mincing words. In the face of a media frenzy over leaked group chat messages from young Republican activists, Vance forcefully redirected the spotlight to what he sees as a much graver concern: Virginia Democratic attorney general candidate Jay Jones, who has not only kept his campaign afloat despite scandal—but continues to receive institutional Democratic support.
The contrast is jarring.
While left-leaning outlets and commentators have been quick to decry the Politico-published messages from a Gen Z conservative chat group—some of which contained offensive jokes, shock-value humor, and crude references—Vance made clear he’s not playing along with the pearl-clutching.
This is far worse than anything said in a college group chat, and the guy who said it could become the AG of Virginia. I refuse to join the pearl clutching when powerful people call for political violence. pic.twitter.com/kV57Wq7BLG
— JD Vance (@JDVance) October 14, 2025
Yes, you read that correctly. A Democratic attorney general candidate texted violent fantasies involving a former Republican lawmaker’s kids—and he’s still on the ballot.
Meanwhile, young conservatives—most of whom hold no office and wield no real power—are being dragged through the media grinder over immature, edgy jokes. Vance made the distinction clear in an appearance on the late Charlie Kirk’s podcast:
“A person who is very politically powerful, who is about to become one of the most powerful law enforcement officers in the country… seriously wishing for political violence and political assassination is 1,000 times worse than what a bunch of kids say in a group chat.”
It’s not just about tone. It’s about who’s actually holding power, and what we’re choosing to condemn.
Vance also touched on the broader issue—cancel culture’s obsession with thought-policing the young. In an era where teenagers are tried in the court of public opinion for private messages and crude humor, the Vice President reminded America of a once-basic truth:
“Kids do stupid things… especially young boys, they tell edgy, offensive jokes. I don’t want us to grow up in a country where a kid telling a stupid joke is cause to ruin their life.”
He’s not wrong. A society that can’t distinguish between adolescent immaturity and a public official expressing violent political fantasies is one that’s abandoned reason for moral theatrics.
“At some point, we’re all going to have to say, ‘Enough of this BS.’”
Jones’ incendiary texts weren’t abstract rants. They referenced real people—his opponents—by name. Yet rather than disqualify him, Democratic operatives have circled the wagons, hoping the story dies before Thursday’s debate with incumbent AG Jason Miyares. Meanwhile, the same media class is obsessing over cringey chatroom jokes from college Republicans.
