Podcast host Jennifer Welch criticized Vice President JD Vance for not more seriously condemning a group chat and failing to “defend his wife” and “defend his children.”
When a Telegram chat among New York State Young Republicans revealed to include racist jokes, Vance rebuffed it and instead pointed out that text messages from Virginia attorney general candidate Jay Jones were “far worse.”
Welch appeared on MSNBC News’s All In with Chris Hayes Wednesday to call out Vance for his response to messages that included, “I love Hitler.”
“Here’s two things about JD Vance. Number one, he used to say Trump is America’s Hitler. So he has regressed,” Welch said. “And number two, he is married to a woman of Indian descent. He has mixed race children. So to all of the MAGA voters out there, if this man will not defend his wife and will not defend his kids, do you think he gives a crap about you or anything to do with you?”
Welch was referring to Vance’s wife Usha, who was born to Indian immigrant parents. Together, the pair share three children: Ewan, born in 2017; Vivek, born in 2019; and Mirabel, born in 2021.
According to Welch, Vance “regressed” when he came under the influence of President Donald Trump.
“What I see with JD Vance and all of the people around Trump is the minute they capitulate to him, they give it just an inch. They completely morally collapse,” Welch said. “Everybody that comes into his orbit becomes a worse person.”
The segment featuring Welch’s comments was subsequently clipped and shared on social media, where politicians reacted to Welch’s comments on the Vance family.
“This statement about @JDVance’s ‘mixed race children’ showcases the left’s unhealthy obsession with race. It’s repulsive,” Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) wrote on X Thursday. “Leave the Vice President’s kids alone. MSNBC should apologize.”
“I’ve seen straight up marxist with less hate in their heart than Jennifer Welch,” Rep. Aaron Pilkington (R-AR) said on X.
A previous staffer to former President Joe Biden, Michael LaRosa, also shared his thoughts. LaRosa served as former First Lady Jill Biden’s spokesman.
VANCE DISMISSES RESPONSE TO YOUNG REPUBLICANS MESSAGES
“I’m a lifelong Democrat. This, however, is some truly vile stuff, and yet (sadly) completely expected and now tolerated on MSNBC,” LaRosa wrote.
The Washington Examiner has reached out to the Vice President for comment.
