Senate Majority Leader John Thune just got caught hiding behind a columnist to attack Vice President JD Vance — and the reason why is crystal clear.
Wall Street Journal columnist Kimberley Strassel published an op-ed Thursday giving anonymous Senate Republicans cover to blame Vance for their own failure to advance President Trump’s agenda.
The anonymous Republicans told Strassel that Vance “was in the Senate less than two years ago” and is “trusted by the president” yet “he’s nowhere.”
“Members hugely appreciate frequent visits from energetic cabinet members — notably Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. But it only further highlights the vice president’s lack of interest.”
Writing on behalf of the Mitch McConnell and John Cornyn wing of the GOP, Strassel said the “experienced legislators” have grown angry over Vance’s decision to position himself as “scolder of the body over which he constitutionally presides, rather than showing up for the work.”
By “scolder,” she was referring to comments Vance made during a recent interview on Joe Rogan’s podcast, where the vice president called out the Senate’s failure to pass the SAVE Act — election safeguard legislation President Trump has been pushing.
Vance blamed “weird, procedural, archaic things” — namely, the filibuster rule that’s blocking Republicans from passing the SAVE Act with a simple majority vote.
What’s really happening here is laughably transparent.
President Trump has been putting pressure on the Senate to pass the SAVE Act. Since congressional Republicans rarely show interest in moving legislation that isn’t a tax cut or sending money overseas, they’re hoping to place the blame on Vance for their failure.
The excuse? He’s neglecting his responsibilities.
Never mind that Vance has been trying to negotiate an end to an exceedingly unpopular war. Apparently he should be having more meetings with senators instead.
Strassel herself has a vested interest in this fight. She’s heavily invested in keeping the U.S. shackled to Israel — she once called it “repulsive” and “disqualifying” to suggest limiting military aid to the country.
Vance, by contrast, is at best ambivalent toward Israel and has recently upset pro-war Republicans and conservative commentators by openly acknowledging that American sentiment is rapidly turning against Israel across both political parties.
The tiny country is alienating the rest of the world, too.
It’s not a mystery where Vance’s political career is heading. Strassel and people like her see it — and they oppose it.
The result is the dishonest hit piece Strassel pushed in the Wall Street Journal targeting the vice president.
Here’s the reality: JD Vance’s constitutional obligation to the Senate is limited to presiding over the chamber — something no modern VP has physically done on a daily basis for decades, because it’s neither practical nor necessary — and breaking tie votes.
For everything else, the Senate has its own leadership.
The White House can’t do everything for Republicans. Otherwise there would be no need for them to have their own office space.
Republicans in the Senate need to grow up, be men, and stop hiding behind Kimberly Strassel.
And she should try being more honest with her audience the next time she wants to attack the vice president.
