US Vice President JD Vance has stirred controversy with a strikingly informal address delivered to American service personnel during their Thanksgiving celebrations.
A Contentious Holiday Address
Speaking to troops in Kentucky on 26 November, the Vice President made headlines with his blunt assessment of the traditional Thanksgiving meal. During his speech, Vance declared that service members were "full of s***" for claiming to genuinely enjoy eating turkey.
While acknowledging that Thanksgiving remains his favourite holiday, Vance expressed his belief that turkey "doesn't actually taste that good". He challenged the assembled personnel by questioning how often they would realistically "roast an 18 pound turkey just randomly" outside of the holiday season.
From Criticism to Culinary Inspiration
Despite his criticism of the traditional roasted bird, the Vice President revealed he had received culinary inspiration from the very troops he was addressing. Vance shared that after a soldier described their preparation method, he was motivated to deep fry his own turkey this year.
This personal anecdote added a lighter note to what otherwise amounted to a direct challenge to one of America's most cherished culinary traditions, delivered to an audience representing the nation's military.
Reactions and Implications
The Vice President's choice of language and subject matter during what is typically a formal occasion to honour service members has raised eyebrows. Addressing troops with such colloquial and direct criticism of a national tradition represents a significant departure from conventional diplomatic protocol.
The incident highlights the ongoing evolution of political rhetoric and the balancing act between authenticity and diplomatic decorum on the international stage, particularly in addresses to military personnel.
