Vice President JD Vance is pushing back hard against what he calls anonymous “cowardly” critics inside the Republican Party, after leaked Signal messages showed internal discussions about U.S. airstrikes on Houthi militants in Yemen.
The controversy centers around a private Signal group chat between Trump administration officials—where discussions reportedly included planning for military action. The leak, published by The Atlantic, has sparked outrage over the use of a private messaging app for sensitive conversations.
Republicans Divided Over Foreign Policy — and Vance Is at the Center
While Democrats were quick to criticize, what shocked many was how some Republicans responded—attacking Vance anonymously in a Jewish Insider article. Seven unnamed GOP figures accused the Vice President of being too hesitant on foreign intervention.
Vance had voiced concerns in the chat, suggesting that the Houthis pose more of a threat to Europe than to the United States, and questioned whether military escalation served America’s interests.
That stance—rooted in an America First, non-interventionist philosophy—didn’t sit well with establishment voices. One anonymous senator even compared Vance’s position to “the Tucker Carlson view of military power,” implying a more restrained use of force overseas.
Vance Responds: “Hit Piece” Filled With Errors and Anonymous Smears
Vance didn’t hold back in his public response. In a detailed post on X (formerly Twitter), he blasted the Jewish Insider article as a politically motivated hit piece.
He also pointed out a major factual error: the article blamed the Houthis for the deaths of three Americans in January. In reality, that attack was carried out by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a completely separate group.
“Shocking that an error like this could get through,” Vance wrote. “Either [the editor] is the biggest hack in Washington—or the dumbest journalist in Washington.”
Trump Jr. Backs Vance: “RINOs Are a Dying Breed”
Donald Trump Jr. also came to Vance’s defense, slamming the anonymous GOP critics.
“If they really feel this way, they should at least be man enough to put their names on it,” he said. “These RINOs are a dying breed in our party—whether they realize it or not.”
GOP Senators Defend Vance’s Right to Question Foreign Policy
Not all Republicans joined the pile-on.
Sen. John Cornyn said it was “appropriate” for Vance to raise questions behind closed doors, emphasizing that internal policy discussions should allow room for dissent. Sen. Markwayne Mullin agreed, saying the Vice President was doing his job by pressing for clarity before action.
Even Sen. Thom Tillis, who disagreed with Vance’s non-interventionist stance, said the Vice President had been “consistent” and principled.
Signal App Use Sparks National Security Concerns
While some media outlets are focused on the debate over Vance’s position, others are raising alarms about the leak itself.
The Signal chat group, which reportedly included high-profile Trump officials like Rep. Mike Waltz and Pete Hegseth, was unintentionally exposed when The Atlantic’s Jeffrey Goldberg was added to the conversation.
Waltz claimed responsibility, saying he built the chat group and that someone may have mistakenly added Goldberg.
President Trump offered a different explanation, suggesting that someone lower down in the chain had Goldberg’s number and may have triggered the leak unintentionally.
Majority of Americans See the Signal Leak as Serious
A YouGov poll conducted March 25 among 5,976 U.S. adults found broad concern over the use of Signal by government officials to discuss military operations:
- 74% of Americans said the situation was “somewhat serious” or “very serious”
- That includes 60% of Republicans, 89% of Democrats, and 72% of independents
The Trump administration has not yet announced an official investigation into the breach. But pressure is growing for a review of how sensitive discussions are handled—and whether private messaging apps should be off-limits.
Bottom Line: Vance Isn’t Backing Down
Despite media pressure and unnamed critics from within his own party, Vice President JD Vance is standing firm. His message to fellow Republicans is clear: if you have a disagreement, say it publicly—and stand by it.
In the era of Trump’s bold, unapologetic leadership, the days of backroom deals and anonymous smears may be numbered.