JD Vance posted a curse-laden message to X defending Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. after his disastrous Senate Finance hearing yesterday, in which Vance made it all about trans kids.Senators largely berated Kennedy for his attempts to erode access to and confidence in vaccines in his tenure at HHS, with even Republicans expressing anger at him for his claims that vaccines have not saved uncountably many lives, his firing of vaccine experts at HHS, his cutting of funding for vaccine research, and the FDA narrowing its approval of the COVID-19 vaccine, which will make it more difficult for many people to obtain. Related RFK Jr. roasted for disturbing Darth Vader breathing as senators berate his anti-vaccine policies Clips from the hearing went viral as senators angrily questioned Kennedy, and he responded with conspiracy theories or just pretended that his own public actions didnt happen. Now, many senators are calling for him to resign.So Vance decided to defend Kennedy by bringing up trans kids. Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today When I see all these senators trying to lecture and gotcha Bobby Kennedy today all I can think is: You all support off-label, untested, and irreversible hormonal therapies for children, mutilating our kids and enriching big pharma, Vance wrote. Youre full of s**t and everyone knows it.When I see all these senators trying to lecture and "gotcha" Bobby Kennedy today all I can think is:You all support off-label, untested, and irreversible hormonal "therapies" for children, mutilating our kids and enriching big pharma. You're full of shit and everyone knows it. JD Vance (@JDVance) September 4, 2025Gender-affirming care is supported by all major medical associations in the U.S., including the American Medical Association, the Endocrine Society, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, as safe and life-saving for young people with gender dysphoria. The medications are often reversible, and they dont mutilate children; they help save lives.Classy, as ever, Mr. Vice President, the conservative Wall Street Journal responded, which noted that many of the senators attacking Kennedy are also transphobic. None of this is true of Dr. Cassidy, Dr. Barrasso, and other Senators, and the Vice President knows it.Mr. Vance is trying to rally Republicans to RFKs side by framing this dispute in a polarized partisan framework, either/or, us/them. That may serve his political purposes as he courts RFKs supporters with 2028 in mind, but it wont win over anyone paying attention to the health secretarys contradictions as he attacks life-saving vaccines.Others on X criticized Vance for bringing up trans kids to deflect from criticism about vaccines. So the defense of RFK Jr gutting vaccine expertise is a culture war rant about gender care? Thats not a counterargument, its a deflection. Public health policy should be debated on evidence, not on whatever wedge issue you think will rile up the crowd. Jake Scott, MD (@jakescottMD) September 4, 2025No one thinks youre authentic because you say the word shit in a tweet Kristi Yamaguccimane (@TheWapplehouse) September 4, 2025I think a sitting Vice President hurling obscenities in his public statements debases the culture and discourse. You gain nothing from it, and it cheapens your argument. i/o (@avidseries) September 4, 2025How are you the Vice President? For god sake, bring decency and cordially back to The White House.This sounds like a reddit comment. You are the Vice President of the United States of America. Act like it. Be better. IGRYAN (@BigRyanPark) September 4, 2025Are your kids vaxxed? James Lippens (@ShamebyJames) September 4, 2025Mr. Vance,If RFK is doing so badly that the best you can do is accuse his critics of being bad people, maybe you should suggest replacing him with someone competent? Andrew Fleischman (@ASFleischman) September 4, 2025JD has as much class and dignity as his degenerate boss. You ignorant pigs have set the bar so low its hard to imagine how youre still able to slither under it. Marlene Robertson (@marlene4719) September 4, 2025Someone from the Trump administration is trying to distract from the conversation at hand through fearmongering about trans people.You don't see that every day oh wait, you do, because that is the default go-to when the administration is failing on an issue, and they're Jared Ryan Sears (@JaredRyanSears) September 4, 2025Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.