Full Breakdown
JD Vance’s Burrito Insult Escalates Into a Jesus-Referencing “Joke”
8/7/2026, 8:57:16 PM
Core Event
Vice President JD Vance entered a social-media dispute with conservative columnist Marc Thiessen by mocking the latter’s weight while debating the cost of college burritos. —was posted on X and later defended on Hugh Hewitt’s Salem News Channel program as a “joke” that referenced Jesus’s humility.
Background & Context
The exchange originated in a broader conversation about rising grocery prices, sparked by right-wing commentator Matt Walsh who warned that high food costs could undermine President Donald Trump. Turning Point USA’s Andrew Kolvet added an anecdote from a college student complaining that a burrito “shouldn’t cost $20.” Thiessen, a Fox News contributor and Washington Post columnist, responded that cafeteria meals are covered by student meal plans, framing the price issue as a personal spending choice.
Official Statements & Responses
Vance told host Hugh Hewitt that his comment was intended humorously and that “Jesus has remarkable humility,” adding that he felt “pretty good” about the jab but might later regret it. He also affirmed Thiessen’s Catholic identity, describing him as “a good Catholic.” Thiessen, in turn, dismissed the criticism of burrito prices, insisting that students should not spend money on casual meals and defending the inclusion of cafeteria food in meal plans.
Verbatim Quotes
- “You know, it was a joke, Hugh. I think there are ways in which you’re allowed to punch back, and you’re allowed to be a little bit humorous. I’m sure it was not as charitable as I should have been, but, you know, one thing is—look, I think he’s a good Catholic,” — Vance, vice president
- “And so I’m always going to fall short of that example, but I don’t think that there’s anything wrong with being a little spicy from time to time.” — Vance, vice president
These statements illustrate the vice president’s framing of the incident as light-hearted religious humor and his willingness to double-down on the insult despite potential backlash.
