Vance Condemns 'Scumbag' Attacks on Staffer
US Vice President JD Vance has launched a furious defence of his deputy press secretary Buckley Carlson, describing critics who've targeted the 28-year-old staffer as "scumbags" in a series of social media posts. The political firestorm erupted after right-wing journalist Sloan Rachmuth questioned whether Buckley Carlson shared what she termed anti-Semitic views allegedly held by his father, former Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson.
The controversy stems from Tucker Carlson's October interview with Nick Fuentes, a far-right figure notorious for making anti-Semitic remarks. The three-week-old interview has sparked intense debate within Republican circles, creating what observers are calling a MAGA civil war over the decision to platform Fuentes.
Republican Division Over Fuentes Interview
Vance's defence came in response to Rachmuth's social media posts questioning whether anti-Semitism represented "a Carlson family trait." The journalist had specifically targeted Buckley Carlson, who serves as Vance's deputy press secretary, asking whether he was also a "vile bigot" like his father's interview subject.
"I have zero tolerance for scumbags attacking my staff," Vance wrote on X on Sunday. "And yes, everyone who I've seen attack Buckley with lies is a scumbag." The vice president went further, questioning Rachmuth's self-described commitment to "Judeo-Christian Values" and asking whether lying about someone you don't know represented such values.
Vance described his staffer as "a good guy who does a great job for me" and criticised what he called Rachmuth's "obsessive" attacks on a staffer in his twenties because of his father's views.
Political Fallout and Broader Implications
Buckley Carlson received additional support from his former employer, Indiana Republican Senator Jim Banks, who served as the young staffer's employer for five years. "He's one of the smartest, most trustworthy and loyal staffers I've ever had," Banks wrote in response to Rachmuth's attacks. "These personal attacks are disgusting and don't serve your cause well."
The incident highlights deepening divisions within conservative circles following Tucker Carlson's decision to interview Fuentes. Prominent Republican figures including Ben Shapiro and Mark Levin have denounced Carlson for providing a platform to Fuentes' anti-Semitic views.
Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump entered the debate by defending Carlson's right to interview whomever he chooses. "You can't tell him who to interview," Trump told reporters on Sunday evening. "I mean, if he wants to interview Nick Fuentes, I don't know much about him, but if he wants to do it, get the word out. People have to decide."
Trump's defence comes despite historical tensions between the former president and Carlson, who has been critical of the Trump administration's foreign policy. The situation is further complicated by Trump's own history with Fuentes, having hosted the controversial figure alongside Kanye West for a Thanksgiving dinner at Mar-a-Lago in November 2022.
As the Republican Party grapples with these internal conflicts, the protection of staffers from personal attacks based on family connections has emerged as a new flashpoint in American political discourse.
