Some members of the Republican establishment are in a tailspin after Vice President J.D. Vance questioned the rush toward another military strike — this time against the Houthis in Yemen. Rather than challenge Vance openly, several Republican senators opted to whisper their frustrations anonymously to Jewish Insider, prompting backlash from conservatives across the country.
The spark for the controversy was Vance’s input during a Signal group chat with national security leaders, where he suggested delaying the strike to explain its importance to the public. He also noted that European shipping interests were at the center of the crisis, not necessarily U.S. security.
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
Vance ultimately gave his support to the strike after hearing arguments from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and national security adviser Mike Waltz. Still, the fact that he raised questions was apparently too much for some lawmakers, who complained behind closed doors that his approach was “perplexing.”
Donald Trump Jr. didn’t hold back when responding to the article. He blasted the anonymous critics, calling them “cowardly” and a “dying breed” within the GOP. “If they really feel this way, then they should at least be man enough to put their names to these quotes,” he said.
Ned Ryun said the criticism showed how unwilling the neocons are to adapt. “No more blowing up everything that moves,” Ryun told The Federalist. “We want American interests to come first.”
The Jewish Insider piece was also hit with a correction after wrongly tying the Houthis to a deadly January attack. That factual mistake, highlighted by Vance himself, only added fuel to the fire surrounding the publication’s credibility.
Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) said Vance’s approach is why many voters trust him. “He’s one of the most active and popular vice presidents in living memory,” Lee said.
Others like Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) and Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) defended Vance’s right to express views and raise questions in a national security setting — especially before committing U.S. force abroad.
