Vice President JD Vance delivered a succinct defense of President Trump after he set off pearl-clutching reactions over an image of the president in papal regalia.
Trump’s artificial intelligence-created image days after the death of Pope Francis set off furious criticism, and when neoconservative writer Bill Kristol confronted Vance about the controversy on social media, he was given a swift and brutal response.
“Hey, @JDVance, you fine with this disrespect and mocking of the Holy Father?” Kristol, who served as chief of staff to the vice president in the Bush administration, asked Vance.
Hey, @JDVance, you fine with this disrespect and mocking of the Holy Father? https://t.co/xbPs1hf5Gn
— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) May 3, 2025
In the upside-down world that leftists are living in since November’s election, it seems they will even step out to defend Catholics now. Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, responded to Kristol in a zinger that reverberated on social media.
“As a general rule, I’m fine with people telling jokes and not fine with people starting stupid wars that kill thousands of my countrymen,” the vice president wrote, in a jab at Kristol’s support for the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
As a general rule, I’m fine with people telling jokes and not fine with people starting stupid wars that kill thousands of my countrymen. https://t.co/2WQPsofVIH
— JD Vance (@JDVance) May 3, 2025
Like a petulant middle-schooler, Kristol shot back in response.
“And I’m fine with people who do really care what happens to Ukraine one way or another, and with people who don’t support the AfD,” he wrote in a shot that failed to land.
And I’m fine with people who do really care what happens to Ukraine one way or another, and with people who don’t support the AfD. https://t.co/fVzL83Rasd
— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) May 4, 2025
Social media users ripped into Kristol while applauding Vance’s rebuttal.
Incredible! Thanks JD. Very cool.
— Spazty McSperg (@Wildharv) May 5, 2025
I’m with JD. A fellow catholic who believes humor, good, war, bad.
— Sean M (@sudokumurphy) May 4, 2025
— The Garbage Man (aka Mr. Deplorable) (@Bailey234747192) May 5, 2025
Vance dropped the mic on you.
Just give it up, loser.
— Real Defender (@real_defender) May 4, 2025
When you want to say, “But Trump” but also want to type more words.
— Vance (@1RedPen) May 4, 2025
I love how your failed attempt at a “gotcha” about Trump’s pope joke has, within one exchange, gotten you back to doing what you do best: defending stupid wars in which countless will senselessly die. It really is your bread and butter, huh?
Idiot.
— (@EudaimoniaEsq) May 4, 2025
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