“Grace Chong Is a Mouth-Breathing Imbecile”: J.D. Vance Fires Back After Criticism Over Missed Senate Votes

Vice President-elect J.D. Vance launched a scathing attack on Grace Chong, CFO of Steve Bannon’s War Room podcast, after she criticized him for missing Senate votes on judicial confirmations. The controversy erupted on Tuesday following the Senate’s confirmation of a judge nominated by President Joe Biden—the first such confirmation since Donald Trump’s 2024 election victory.

Chong expressed frustration on X (formerly Twitter), accusing Vance and Secretary of State nominee Marco Rubio (R-FL) of failing to fulfill their duties as senators. “You guys better show up and do your one fricken job!!” Chong wrote. @JDVance @marcorubio and the rest of you Senate Republicans that didn’t bother to show up yesterday.”

Vance wasted no time firing back, calling Chong’s criticism baseless and misinformed. “Grace Chong is a mouth-breathing imbecile who attacks those of us in the fight rather than make herself useful,” Vance responded on X. He explained that even if he had attended the vote, the nominee would have been confirmed with a 49-46 margin instead of 49-45, told Reuters.

He further argued that a full Republican turnout would not have changed the outcome, as Democrats could still rely on Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) to secure the confirmation. Vance defended his absence by emphasizing his focus on transition efforts, particularly interviewing candidates for critical roles in the incoming Trump administration.

“If I had shown up to the vote in question, the nominee would have succeeded 49-46 rather than 49-45,” Vance wrote. “If every Republican had showed up, Fetterman would have come in, and the Democrats still would have gotten their nominee across.” He continued: “I tend to think it’s more important to get an FBI director who will dismantle the deep state than it is for Republicans to lose a vote 49-46 rather than 49-45. But that’s just me.”

The exchange is notable because Vance was a frequent guest on War Room during the 2024 campaign, aligning himself closely with Bannon’s platform. Chong’s criticism and subsequent deletion of her tweet highlight tensions within the MAGA coalition as Trump’s transition team prioritizes shaping the new administration over legislative battles in the Senate.

The dispute underscores a larger debate about the balance between fulfilling current legislative responsibilities and preparing for the next administration, as Republicans face scrutiny for their approach to governance.