Vice President J.D. Vance is facing criticism not for a failure in leadership but for asking questions before supporting military action. Several Republican senators, unwilling to go public, chose to anonymously express frustration over Vance’s cautious approach during discussions about airstrikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Vance, during a private Signal conversation with senior officials, questioned whether the strike was in America’s interest. He warned about the risk of rising oil prices and noted the conflict’s greater impact on European shipping than on U.S. trade. Despite those concerns, he supported the strike after hearing arguments from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and national security adviser Mike Waltz.
This morning, @JoshKraushaar ran a hit piece against me in Jewish Insider, which has become an anti-JD rag. It has many problems, including seven anonymous quotes from cowardly Republicans.
But the most glaring factual error is the below, which says the Houthis killed three… pic.twitter.com/kzbzrqjIYC
— JD Vance (@JDVance) March 27, 2025
Rather than engage in open dialogue, unnamed senators ran to Jewish Insider to voice their displeasure. The outlet published a piece that portrayed Vance as out of step with party leadership. Vance later slammed the article and its editor, pointing to a key factual error that required correction — the article wrongly linked the Houthis to an earlier attack on U.S. forces.
Donald Trump Jr. defended the vice president, calling the anonymous attacks “cowardly” and saying the people behind them are part of a “dying breed.” He said their refusal to go on the record shows weakness and a fear of political accountability.
Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) supported Vance, praising his consistency and criticizing the senators who chose to attack him through the media. Ned Ryun, head of American Majority, said neoconservatives in the party are clinging to outdated ideas of global policing with no regard for American priorities.
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) publicly disagreed with Vance but acknowledged that the vice president has been consistent in his view of when the U.S. should use force abroad. Others, like Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), said Vance’s role requires him to raise hard questions in high-stakes discussions.
The criticism has done little to slow Vance’s influence. His America First approach continues to resonate with the voters who elected the Trump-Vance ticket to end reckless foreign entanglements.
