Vice President JD Vance is under fire after a podcast appearance that many are calling reckless, divisive, dishonest, and flat-out “irresponsible.”
During Monday’s episode of The Charlie Kirk Show, Vance made several inflammatory statements that have since triggered a wave of criticism across the political spectrum.
In the episode, Vance interviewed Trump White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, and used the platform to launch broad attacks on left-wing groups—going as far as to accuse them of being statistically more violent than their right-wing counterparts.
“While our side of the aisle certainly has its crazies, it is a statistical fact that most of the lunatics in American politics today are proud members of the far-Left,” Vance said.
That one line was enough to light up social media like a Christmas tree in July.
“You’re lying, JD Vance,” posted Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO) on Bluesky. “Stop using tragedy to stoke divisions between Americans so you can grab more power.”
Zeteo News founder Medhi Hasan chimed in bluntly on X: “That is a lie. Obviously. Well, actually this bit is true; it’s ’not a both sides problem.’ Agreed. It’s a specifically Republican problem.”
Jon Favreau, co-host of Pod Save America, was equally blunt. “It is not a statistical fact at all,” he wrote. “I wouldn’t make an assertion like that about the right without evidence and I’m just a podcaster, not the Vice President of the United States. Incredibly irresponsible.”
That phrase—incredibly irresponsible—has become something of a summary for how critics view Vance’s remarks. The backlash wasn’t just ideological; it was fact-based.
Glenn Kessler, longtime political fact-checker and former Washington Post columnist, weighed in on Bluesky: “False. I recently checked the ADL data, which has some issues because they include non-ideological murders. But even with those removed, over the past decade right-wing extremists would account for about half of the murders, with about 35% by Islamist extremists, and 8% by left-wing extremist.”
If anyone still needed a reminder of who actually stormed the Capitol on January 6, USA Today columnist Michael Stern didn’t hold back:
“JD Vance is full of bull—-. He is blatantly lying when he says liberals are more likely to commit political violence. Someone should have him chat with his predecessor, Mike Pence, who MAGA tried to murder. Take a look at the January 6 videos and you will know MAGA are more violent.”
At a time when political rhetoric is under a microscope, Vance’s comments have raised serious concerns—not just about the content, but about the platform. As Vice President, his words carry weight far beyond the usual cable news talking points. They shape perception, influence policy, and, in some cases, incite action.
So when the Vice President tells millions of listeners that the left is the more dangerous side, while glossing over a literal insurrection by his own party’s base, it’s more than just another hot take—it’s a serious problem.
Critics say Vance either doesn’t understand the data, or worse, understands it perfectly and chooses to lie anyway. Either way, they argue, it’s behavior unbecoming of someone in one of the highest offices in the country.
Watch the clip below:
Vance: “People on the left are much likelier to defend and celebrate political violence. This is not a both sides problem. If both sides have a problem, then one side has a much bigger and malignant problem and that is the truth.” pic.twitter.com/1Pk37iyAT8
— The Bulwark (@BulwarkOnline) September 15, 2025
