Vice President JD Vance is facing fierce backlash after mocking elderly Americans who protested the Trump administration plans to cut Social Security.
Vance recently visited Bay City, Michigan, to talk about President Trump’s economic agenda at a manufacturing plant. As expected, he was met by a group of passionate protesters, many of them senior citizens holding signs that read “Protect Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security” and “Fascists Not Welcome in Michigan.” These folks were there because they’re worried about the future of Social Security—and they were looking for someone in power to listen. Instead, what they got was mockery.
While speaking at Vantage Plastics, Vance took shots at the protesters. He brushed them off, suggesting they had nothing better to do than make noise. Some of their signs also took aim at Elon Musk, who’s been vocal about wanting to slash Social Security by hundreds of billions. Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has been pushing for cuts, and his bizarre claims about Social Security—like saying it’s a ploy to get undocumented immigrants to vote—don’t hold up. (Just to clear that up: undocumented immigrants can’t vote or get Social Security benefits.)
Vance didn’t let up, saying, “I’m sure all of us saw there were a few protesters outside. And I can’t be the only person wondering, you know, it’s a cool afternoon, on a Friday, and don’t you all have jobs?”
This didn’t sit well with many. One user on Bluesky, who was escorted out of the event, fired back, “Like 2nd [shift]? 3rd? Splits? Part-time? Retired? Hypocrite, what about his invite-only crowd?”
Vance’s comments come as the Trump administration faces growing criticism, particularly over the impact of new tariffs on American workers. Vance and U.S. Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler were at the plant Friday, but the Trump administration’s tariffs on Canada, China, and Mexico are taking a toll on everyday Americans. The tariffs are expected to cost U.S. households an extra $1,600 to $2,000 a year, according to Yale University’s Budget Lab.
Vance tried to downplay the impact of these tariffs, claiming they wouldn’t affect American companies that produce domestically. He even made a veiled threat to businesses relying on imports: “Our administration’s plan is to make it easier and more affordable to make things within the United States. If you invest in America, in American jobs, in American workers, in American businesses, you’re going to be rewarded. We’re going to cut your taxes, slash regulations, and reduce energy costs. But if you try to undercut us and build outside of our borders, then President Trump’s administration has got nothing for you.”
Watch the moment that sparked the outrage below.
JD Vance attacks elderly retired Americans at his event who are asking him to stop trying to cut Social Security: “Don’t you all have jobs?” pic.twitter.com/lvf8PN058Y
— FactPost (@factpostnews) March 14, 2025
