"Never skipped a burrito": J.D. Vance bypasses the boss to become America's chief troll
The US Vice President has sparked a fresh controversy after publicly mocking the weight of a conservative commentator who criticized his stance on Iran. The incident has reignited the debate over Vance's combative style, which supporters view as authentic and critics label as crude.
This is likely not the first time someone on social media has mocked another person's weight, but it is almost certainly the first time the Vice President of the United States has done so publicly. J.D. Vance, furious this week at a conservative publicist who criticized his position on Iran, chose to attack his physical appearance instead. "If you have ever met him in person," Vance wrote on the social network, "it is perfectly clear that this man has never skipped a burrito."
In an era where playground-style insults are considered legitimate political discourse, few have engaged in online wars with more enthusiasm than Vance. According to a report by veteran "New York Times" reporter Peter Baker, the first millennial Vice President long ago abandoned the politeness and restraint that characterized his predecessors. He does not hesitate to directly attack the "idiots" and "scum" who anger him, ranging from "limousine socialists" on the left to "deplorable" conservatives on the right.
Vance, working under a master of personal insults, President Donald Trump, is emerging as one of the chief trolls of the current administration. But even if his goal is to impress the boss, it seems Vance has a natural appetite for confrontation, a product of a generation raised on impulsive political instincts. For him, it is not enough that an opponent is wrong on policy; they must also be stupid, a liar, vile, or, as mentioned, overweight.
"Vice President Vance's willingness to publicly disparage others in personal terms departs from the behavior of modern vice presidents over the last half-century," explained Joel Goldstein, a scholar of the vice presidency at Saint Louis University. According to him, beyond Vance's motives, "this behavior violates the norms associated with the office and harms the goal of promoting rational public discourse."
Advisors and allies of Vance, however, see it differently. They claim these direct confrontations prove the authenticity and accessibility that the American public craves. In their view, Vance has absorbed plenty of ugly attacks himself, and it is his full right to return fire. In an interview with NBC last year, Vance explained: "I tend to err on the side of openness. It's probably a generational thing; I come from a very technological generation." However, last May he took a break from social media, deleting the X app from his device, claiming the disconnection made him more productive, though he noted the network provides "raw and unfiltered opinions" that are important for him to hear as a political leader.
Vance's latest and most publicized battle was against Marc Thiessen, a former speechwriter for President George W. Bush and a "Washington Post" columnist. Thiessen, who firmly supported Trump's war against Iran, published a sharp column accusing Vance of failing in negotiations with Tehran. A few days later, Thiessen responded in another thread regarding the cost of living, where a student complained about Mexican fast-food prices on campus. Thiessen wrote dismissively: "The burritos in the college cafeteria are included in your meal plan."
In response, Vance jumped at the opportunity and posted the mocking tweet about Thiessen's eating habits. Alex Bruesewitz, a former advisor to the Trump campaign, defended the Vice President, arguing it is inappropriate for commentators who earn a fortune promoting wars on television to disparage the economic anxieties of young people. "The Vice President was right," concluded Bruesewitz. "It seems Marc Thiessen suffers from severe obesity. He should get off the burritos." Given his conduct so far, it seems Vance has no intention of leaving social media anytime soon.
