Vance says Jay Jones’ violent texts worse than Republican group chat leak

Vice President JD Vance on Wednesday shrugged off outrage over the leak of a young conservative group chat, arguing that it pales in comparison to the exposed texts of Virginia Democratic attorney general candidate Jay Jones.

Vice President JD Vance and President Donald Trump separately criticized Democrats who continue to support Virginia attorney general candidate Jones as his campaign unravels over texts considering the murder of a former Republican lawmaker and his young children.

Jones — who has sent messages saying he would happily take a shot at former Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert — will face incumbent Attorney General Jason Miyares at the University of Richmond on Thursday in their only debate.

Vance also tweeted and spoke about the outrage over a leaked group chat, first reported by Politico, in which young Republican activists, many from New York, sent texts that included mentions of Adolf Hitler, racial slurs and other offensive statements, many of which could be jokes typical of the offensive and absurd meaning of humor based on the shock values of Generation Z.

Virginia Dem JAY JONES’ Fatherhood-Themed Post Sparks Outrage Over Past Text Wishing Harm on Republican Children

Vice President JD Vance delivers remarks at Hatch Stamping September 17, 2025 in Howell, Michigan. (Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)

Vance shared a screenshot of Jones’ texts hoping a fellow Republican’s children would die and wrote, “This is way worse than anything said in a college group chat, and the guy who said this could become Virginia’s AG. I refuse to join the group when powerful people call for political violence.”

Vance responded to the incident further on the late Charlie Kirk’s podcast, noting “a person who is very powerful politically, who is about to become one of the most powerful law enforcement officers in the country, this person who seriously desires political violence and political assassination is 1,000 times worse than what a group of young people, a group of children say in a group chat, as offensive as that is. It’s just the reality. ”

He added: “And if you get distracted by this person’s incredible support, their disgusting support for political assassination by focusing on what kids are saying in a group chat, grow up.”

TRUMP AND VANCE BLAST DEMOCRATS FOR SUPPORTING VIRGINIA AG CANDIDATE OVER TEXTS FANTASIZING THE MURDER OF GOP LEGISLATOR

Virginia Attorney General candidate Jay Jones speaks at an event in Norfolk, Virginia. (Trevor Metcalfe/The Virginian-Pilot/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

Vance noted that today’s world is very different from the one he grew up in, in which one has to be extremely careful not to be scrutinized for offensive jokes, “but the reality is that kids do stupid things, especially young boys, they tell bold and offensive jokes…I really don’t want us to grow up in a country where a kid who tells a stupid joke – telling a very offensive joke and stupid is a reason to ruin your life.”

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Vice President JD Vance argued that young men’s lives should not be ruined for making offensive jokes online. (Alex Brandon, pool/AP Photo)

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He alluded to the cancel culture phenomenon that has been pervasive in America for years, saying it is time to reject such tactics once and for all.

“And at some point we all have to say, ‘Enough of this bullshit. We’re not going to allow the worst moment in a group chat between a 21-year-old to ruin a kid’s life for the rest of time,'” he said.

Charles Creitz of Fox News contributed to this report.