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As President-elect Donald Trump continues to shape his cabinet, Vice President-elect JD Vance is reportedly expressing frustration after being sidelined by Trump. Vance, in a move reminiscent of Trump’s brash style, took to X (formerly Twitter) to insult Grace Chong, calling her an “imbecile.”
Chong, who serves as the CFO and COO for Steve Bannon’s pro-Trump “WarRoom” podcast, had criticized Vance and Senator Marco Rubio for not fulfilling their duties during the Senate’s vote on President Joe Biden’s judicial nominees. In a now-deleted tweet, Chong urged Republicans to “show up and do your one fricken job.”
The incident comes amidst growing speculation about Vance’s role in Trump’s administration, with comparisons being made between him and Melania Trump, who remained largely absent from the campaign trail during Trump’s previous term. (via The Independent) Vance’s low profile has raised questions, especially as Elon Musk seems to be gaining influence in Trump’s circle.
Musk, who is ineligible for the presidency, has increasingly inserted himself into Trump’s plans, even joining the president-elect on a private plane to share a meal with Donald Trump Jr., House Speaker Mike Johnson, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Health. Vance was noticeably absent from the gathering.
Michael Steele, former RNC chairman, noted Musk’s rising influence, suggesting that Musk’s relationship with Trump is set to dominate Washington, with Vance playing a distant second role. Musk, often referred to as the “guest who wouldn’t leave,” has been spending considerable time at Mar-a-Lago and recently participated in a call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy—an event Vance was not involved in.
According to The New York Times, Musk has also been tapped to lead Trump’s planned Department of Government Efficiency, an initiative to streamline government agencies and cut wasteful expenditures. Trump has echoed Chong’s sentiments on Truth Social, his social media platform, criticizing Democrats for attempting to fill the courts with “Radical Left Judges” before Inauguration Day. He called on Republican senators to “Show Up and Hold the Line.”
