J.D. Vance reacts to leaked GOP racist and violent Telegram messages: “I refuse to join the pearl clutching”

Vice President of the United States J.D. Vance has pushed back against the outrage cycle on X after Politico published a trove of leaked Telegram messages from Young Republican leaders that included racial slurs, calls for murder and references to gas chambers.

“This is far worse than anything said in a college group chat,” Vance wrote, attaching a chat conversation allegedly including Democratic attorney general nominee Jay Jones calling for violence against an opponent. “I refuse to join the pearl clutching when powerful people call for political violence,” Vance added.

While the VP may be right in calling out Jones, who has form in this, his minimizing of the current story was notable. Whataboutery at its best, and the replies – after well over seven million views – were predictably partisan.

What do the leaks reveal?

The Politico reporting reproduces months of private messages that show several Young Republican figures using racial epithets, praising Nazi imagery and fantasizing about torturing or killing political opponents.

Messages attributed to leaders in New York, Kansas, Arizona and Vermont include repeated slurs (reported more than 250 times across the logs), proposals about “fixing the showers” and other explicitly violent imagery, and discussions that trafficked in antisemitic and misogynistic language.

Could there be political consequences to GOP young leaders?

Since the story broke, at least one person is said to have lost a job and another had an offer withdrawn. There have been prominent Republicans who have publicly condemned the remarks and called for accountability. Some implicated figures have apologized and suggested portions of the logs may have been doctored or taken out of context, while others declined to comment.

State and national party leaders – from the New York GOP chair to members of Congress – have demanded explanations and resignations.

Does this matter given current political landscape?

Beyond highlighting individual characteristics, experts say the chats illuminate how dehumanizing language can normalize extreme views among young operatives and spill into policy and organizing. Observers point to a broader coarsening of political discourse and warn that when future party leaders express or tolerate this language, it risks alienating voters and emboldening political violence.

Vance, given his position, had an opportunity to take a stance on vile language here. He chose not to and the ugly divide grows even wider.

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