Controversy Erupts After JD Vance Mocks Combat Veteran During Rubio Hearing

U.S. Vice President JD Vance has come under fire after a controversial and disrespectful statement he made on social media this week.

The controversy began during a tense Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, where Secretary of State Marco Rubio clashed with Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois over U.S. military actions involving Venezuela. 

As Duckworth repeatedly questioned Rubio, Vance posted a comment on X comparing the senator to the main character from the film Forrest Gump.

JD Vance made a controversial statement against veteran Tammy Duckworth

JD Vance speaking at podium with law enforcement officers standing behind during a controversial hearing event.

Image credits: Anthony Souffle/Getty Images

In his post, Vance wrote that watching Duckworth interrupt Rubio was “like watching Forrest Gump argue with Isaac Newton.” 

Vance added in a follow-up post, which has since been viewed around half a million times, “Thank God we have a Secretary of State who knows his facts AND has the patience of Job. Great job.” 

The only caveat: Duckworth is a Purple Heart recipient, a U.S. Senator disabled by her service in the Iraq War. Duckworth lost both legs and partial use of her right arm while serving in Iraq in 2004. 

Watching Tammy Duckworth obsessively interrupt Marco Rubio during this hearing is like watching Forest Gump argue with Isaac Newton.

— JD Vance (@JDVance) January 28, 2026

At the time, Duckworth, 36, was flying a Black Hawk helicopter when a rocket-propelled grenade struck the aircraft. She survived the attack and later continued serving in the U.S. Army for another decade before retiring as a lieutenant colonel.  

Many critics said Vance’s reference to Forrest Gump crossed a line because the film’s title character has physical and intellectual disabilities.  

Vance has himself served four years in the U.S. Marine Corps Public Affairs Office, including a six-month deployment to Iraq. 

Woman in military hat speaking into microphone at outdoor event with American flags, related to combat veteran controversy.

Image credits: Jacek Boczarski/Getty Images

Duckworth responded directly on X, saying, “Forrest Gump ran toward danger in Vietnam. Your boss ran to his podiatrist crying bone spurs,” referencing President Donald Trump’s several Vietnam War draft deferments. Trump also has a questionable medical exemption for bone spurs. 

Duckworth continued: “Petty insults at the expense of people with disabilities won’t change the fact that you’re risking troops’ lives to boost Chevron’s stock price. It’s my job to hold you accountable.”

Vance compared Duckworth to a Forest Gump character with physical and intellectual disabilities

Forrest Gump ran toward danger in Vietnam. Your boss ran to his podiatrist crying bone spurs.

Petty insults at the expense of people with disabilities won’t change the fact that you’re risking troops’ lives to boost Chevron’s stock price.

It’s my job to hold you accountable. https://t.co/KTVMtUPLBe

— Tammy Duckworth (@SenDuckworth) January 28, 2026

Journalists and activists heavily criticized Vance. “Watching JD Vance gratuitously insult Tammy Duckworth is like watching a serial liar and opportunist insult a military helicopter pilot who lost both her legs when her helicopter was shot down in the Iraq War and then served 10 more years in the National Guard,” journalist Cathy Young wrote on X. 

John Bourshceid, another X user, wrote, “At least we can say one thing about JD Vance: He’s consistent about not giving a s–t about wounded combat veterans, Duckworth included. Unless pretending to care serves his own needs, of course.”

Politician speaking at outdoor press event next to a woman in a wheelchair amid controversy involving JD Vance and combat veteran.

Image credits: Scott Olson/Getty Images

Fellow politicians also came to Duckworth’s defense. Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker called Vance a “random troll tweeting at her.” California Rep. John Garamendi called the attack on his fellow Democrat “classless and disgraceful.”

 “If you had any honor, you’d take this post down. But you work for Trump, so clearly you have none,” Garamendi said. 

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