A handful of Republicans are trying to undermine Vice President J.D. Vance — not in open debate, but through anonymous complaints in a press outlet that later had to issue a correction for misreporting key facts. Vance’s crime? Asking if military force should be justified before America jumps into another conflict.
The controversy centers on a leaked Signal message thread where Vance raised concerns about striking the Houthis in Yemen. He asked whether the American public had been given a reason to support the action, and whether European allies — who rely more heavily on Red Sea shipping — should shoulder the burden instead.
This morning, @JoshKraushaar ran a hit piece against me in Jewish Insider, which has become an anti-JD rag. It has many problems, including seven anonymous quotes from cowardly Republicans.
But the most glaring factual error is the below, which says the Houthis killed three… pic.twitter.com/kzbzrqjIYC
— JD Vance (@JDVance) March 27, 2025
Though he ultimately backed the strike, Vance’s questions triggered several unnamed senators to label him “isolationist” in a Jewish Insider article. They claimed his viewpoint might reshape the GOP’s direction — something many conservatives see as a positive, not a problem.
Donald Trump Jr. fired back in a statement, accusing the anonymous critics of being too weak to say their piece publicly. “These seven cowardly neocons attacking JD anonymously are genuine pussies,” he told the outlet. “Whether they realize it or not, their time is over.”
Ned Ryun said the frustration toward Vance reveals just how unprepared neoconservatives are to defend their position. “We’d like to exorcise that movement from the party,” he said. “No more nation building. No more American empire.”
Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) made clear that Vance is acting on principle. “The American people agree with his vision,” he said, noting Vance’s rising influence inside the party.
The Jewish Insider article falsely suggested the Houthis were responsible for a January attack that killed U.S. troops — a claim that was later corrected after Vance called it out.
As more Republicans adopt a focus on U.S. interests first, critics of Vance are finding themselves on the outside of a party that’s moved on from the Bush-era foreign policy playbook.
