Condemn JD Vance’s Defense of Racism and Hate Speech

I am writing to express outrage that Vice President JD Vance has defended the Young Republican leaders exposed for sharing vile racist, antisemitic, and misogynistic slurs in their private group chats. These were not “kids,” as Vance falsely claimed. They were adult staffers working for state legislators, attorneys general, policy institutes, and even the federal government. Their messages—glorifying Hitler, joking about the Holocaust, mocking rape, and using slurs against women and people of color—were not “edgy humor.” They were hate speech. Dismissing this behavior as “boys being boys” normalizes racism and undermines the moral standards our leaders should uphold. Vance’s defense is especially disturbing given that some of the attacks were aimed at Indian women—the heritage of his own wife and children. His silence and excuses reveal a lack of basic decency, empathy, and integrity unfit for public office. This comes as yet another Republican staffer was caught displaying a swastika on a U.S. flag in a congressional office. When hate symbols and hate speech are met with excuses instead of condemnation, it sends a message that extremism is tolerated at the highest levels of government. Congress must draw a clear moral line. Condemn JD Vance’s defense of hate speech, reaffirm zero tolerance for racism and antisemitism in all government offices, and ensure that individuals who traffic in or excuse such hatred are never placed in positions of power or trust again.