Political Tribune

GOP, JD Vance, Military, Opinion, Politics

JD Vance’s Cringe Text Leaks — And The Internet Can’t Stop Laughing At Him

This is peak incompetence

573
573 points

In the middle of the “Signalgate” scandal, Vice President JD Vance managed to make himself the internet’s latest joke.

Hours after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth accidentally shared secret war plans about Yemen in a Signal group chat, Vance sent a message at 2:26 a.m.: “This chat’s kind of dead. Anything going on?”

No one replied. Screenshots from March 27, 2025, show the chat silent after Vance’s late-night text. The timing could not have been worse. Hegseth had just been exposed by The Atlantic for dangerously discussing airstrikes in an unsecured chat with journalists accidentally reading along.

While others in the chat scrambled to cover their tracks, changing names and settings so messages disappeared, Vance seemed oblivious. His message came off as tone-deaf, if not entirely clueless. If he meant it as a joke, it failed spectacularly.

The bizarre text became public in a Pentagon inspector general report released Thursday. The report confirmed what many already suspected: Hegseth’s Signal discussions violated security protocols and put troops at risk.

The chat was not the only mistake. Hegseth reportedly used the same phone for social media and sports gambling, and even included family members in other sensitive discussions.

Hegseth defended himself, claiming, “I retain the sole discretion to decide whether something should be classified or whether classified materials no longer require protection and can be declassified. On 15 March 2025, at 1144ET, I took non-specific general details which I determined, in my sole discretion, were either not classified, or that I could safely declassify, which I then typed into the Signal chat.”

Even with that excuse, the chat exposed a major lapse in judgment. Vance’s 2:26 a.m. message made the situation even more absurd. FactPost shared it, and the reactions were relentless, with social media users mocking the vice president for his clueless timing.

Featured image via X screengrab

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Terry Lawson

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Terry is an editor and political writer based in Alabama. Over the last five years, he’s worked behind the scenes as a ghostwriter for a range of companies, helping shape voices and tell stories that connect. Now at Political Tribune, he writes sharp political pieces and edits with a close eye on clarity and tone. Terry’s work is driven by strong storytelling, attention to detail, and a clear sense of purpose. He’s skilled in writing, editing, and project management — and always focused on getting the message right. You can find him on X at https://x.com/TerryNotTrump.

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