On Tuesday night, just hours after the Politico report was first published, the vice president wrote via social media that this was merely “a college group chat,” adding that he refused to “join the pearl clutching.”

A day later, the Ohio Republican elaborated on his perspective while again downplaying the significance of the story. Vance said on a conservative podcast:

The reality is that kids do stupid things, especially young boys. They tell edgy, offensive jokes. That’s what kids do. And I really don’t want us to grow up in a country where a kid telling a stupid joke — telling a very offensive, stupid joke — is cause to ruin their lives

.

While continuing to refer to the group chat’s participants as “kids,” the vice president added that, as far as he’s concerned, this isn’t a “real” issue.

Vance on public outrage over the "I love Hitler" group chat: "Grow up! Focus on the real issues. Don't focus on what kids say in group chats... The reality is that kids do stupid things, especially young boys — they tell edgy, offensive jokes. That's what kids do."

— The Bulwark (@thebulwark.com) 2025-10-15T18:56:47.333Z

So, a few things.

First, the idea that those responsible for racist, antisemitic and homophobic content, including comments about gas chambers, slavery and rape, were “young boys” and “kids” is factually wrong. The Republicans in question were adults. Some are in their 30s.....

Second, if Vance believes comments about rape and gas chambers are “edgy,” he probably ought to reassess his cultural standards.

Third, we’re not just talking about a group of teens who fired off a dumb text on the quad between classes. Some of these Republican adults are currently working for elected officials, ostensibly serving the public. One, Samuel Douglass of Vermont, is even a sitting state senator.

Fourth, Vance might not see systemic Republican bigotry as a “real” issue, but that says more about the vice president than it does about those taking the controversy seriously.

Stepping back, it would’ve been incredibly easy for Vance to simply say, “Bigotry has no place in this party.” But for reasons he hasn’t explained, the vice president, almost exactly a year after peddling a racist conspiracy theory, refused this incredibly obvious course.