The Wall Street Journal published an op-ed essay Thursday titled ‘President Vance Goes AWOL’ by Kimberley A. Strassel, with the subhead “The Leader of the Senate could bring Congress together. He’s hawking a book.”
Federalist CEO and co-founder Sean Davis responded to the essay by writing on social media: “I’m sorry, but pulling this obvious little stunt against J.D. Vance, whose wife just gave birth, when Mitch McConnell hasn’t been seen in weeks is absolutely absurd. What are we even doing here.”
I’m sorry, but pulling this obvious little stunt against J.D. Vance, whose wife just gave birth, when Mitch McConnell hasn’t been seen in weeks is absolutely absurd. What are we even doing here. pic.twitter.com/zGXSfTG5jq
— Sean Davis (@seanmdav) July 20, 2026
[NOTE: Vance appeared on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast last Wednesday and spoke about his new memoir, Communion: Finding My Way Back to Faith, among other subjects, such as Joe Biden’s brain surgery. His wife, Second Lady Usha Vance, had her baby — their fourth child — on Sunday.]
Strassel replied to Davis: “Nice try. When Vance chose to blow off the GOP to go on Rogan–and when this was written–his wife was still expecting. And as problematic as McConnell’s absence is, there is a gulf between having to be admitted to the hospital for a health issue, and choosing to fly to Texas for a taping.”
Nice try. When Vance chose to blow off the GOP to go on Rogan–and when this was written–his wife was still expecting. And as problematic as McConnell’s absence is, there is a gulf between having to be admitted to the hospital for a health issue, and choosing to fly to Texas for… https://t.co/xpfJxZDh28
— Kimberley Strassel (@KimStrassel) July 20, 2026
Strassel added: “I continue to find it interesting that Vance/supporters won’t just address the actual criticism. If it’s no big deal that he canceled the House on Tuesday for Rogan, explain why.
“Even I could spin up an argument (if not a strong one): His time is better spent reaching that audience; it was going to be more productive to meet with the GOP later that week; etc.
“Instead, the response is to attack anyone who criticizes–or anyone who simply reports about others who are criticizing.”
Davis replied to Strassel: “Senate Rules require senators to seek the permission of the Senate to be absent and miss votes. Mitch McConnell has been absent in violation of this rule for how long now? And you’re pretending the Vice President, who by the way doesn’t work for John Thune, is the problem here? The little game is beyond tiresome. We all know why WSJ is melting down about Vance—he’s not a neocon—so let’s just drop the pretense. And blaming Vance for GOP conference problems caused directly by the intransigence of McConnell, Murkowski, and Tillis is absurd.”
Other conservatives criticized Vance’s appearance on Rogan’s show for very different reasons — pertaining more to the Vice President’s views than his schedule or priorities. Those critics included Ben Shapiro, who said the Vice President “sounded like a Democrat.”
Shapiro wrote: ““I tuned into Joe Rogan yesterday and heard Bernie Sanders’ economics, Barack Obama’s foreign policy, and Ro Khanna’s conspiracy theories. And then I realized JD Vance was talking. I want a candidate in 2028 who doesn’t mirror the Democrats — and who can win.”
I tuned into Joe Rogan yesterday and heard Bernie Sanders’ economics, Barack Obama’s foreign policy, and Ro Khanna’s conspiracy theories.
And then I realized JD Vance was talking.
I want a candidate in 2028 who doesn’t mirror the Democrats — and who can win.
Mr. VP, this is…
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) July 16, 2026
The conspiracy theory Shapiro referred to involves the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. As seen and heard below, Vance told Rogan that Epstein “clearly had connections to the highest levels of American intelligence. He clearly had connections to the highest level of Israeli intelligence.”
Rogan: Most people think Epstein was Mossad.
Vance: “Ya. Mossad or CIA or some other deep state, whether in America or Israel…He clearly had connections to the highest levels of American intelligence. He clearly had connections to the highest level of Israeli intelligence.” pic.twitter.com/sdnI5XIlUf
— The Bulwark (@BulwarkOnline) July 15, 2026