JD Vance has fiercely criticized a journalist for targeting Tucker Carlson’s son amidst ongoing tensions within the MAGA community over an interview with Nick Fuentes. On Sunday, Vance, the vice president, took to social media platform X to confront right-wing journalist Sloan Rachmuth. Rachmuth had targeted Buckley Carlson, Tucker’s son, accusing the Carlson family of harboring anti-Semitic sentiments. This came after Tucker Carlson faced backlash from pro-Israel Republicans following his October conversation with Fuentes, known for his anti-Semitic statements.

Buckley Carlson, who is 28, works in Vance’s office as the deputy press secretary. Rachmuth had questioned whether Buckley shared similar bigoted views, prompting Vance to defend him. She had previously criticized Tucker’s brother, also named Buckley, for allegedly admiring Fuentes, and questioned whether Tucker’s son, who works closely with Vance, shared such views.

Vance responded emphatically on X, stating, “I have zero tolerance for scumbags attacking my staff. And yes, *everyone* who I’ve seen attack Buckley with lies is a scumbag.” He continued by challenging Rachmuth’s self-proclaimed defense of “Judeo-Christian Values,” questioning if spreading lies fits within those values. Vance added, “Sloan Rachmuth is a ‘journalist’ who has decided to obsessively attack a staffer in his 20s because she doesn’t like the views of his father.” Buckley also received support from his previous boss, Indiana Republican Senator Jim Banks, who defended his former Deputy Chief of Staff.

‘Buckley worked for me for five years,’ Banks wrote in response to Rachmuth. ‘He’s one of the smartest, most trustworthy and loyal staffers I’ve ever had. These personal attacks are disgusting and don’t serve your cause well.’ Vance has not addressed the controversy surrounding Carlson’s interview with one of the far right’s most prominent voices. GOP figures such as Ben Shapiro and Mark Levin have denounced Carlson for ‘platforming’ Fuentes’ anti-Semitic views. President Donald Trump, meanwhile, did weigh into the debate by defending Carlson.

Trump on Sunday evening told reporters, ‘You can’t tell him who to interview. I mean, if he wants to interview Nick Fuentes, I don’t know much about him, but if he wants to do it, get the word out. People have to decide. Ultimately, people have to decide.’ In the past, Fuentes has been critical of Trump and encouraged his supporters, known as ‘Groypers’, not to support Trump in the 2024 election.

Trump, Fuentes, and Kanye West had an infamous Thanksgiving dinner together at Mar-a-Lago in November 2022. The president claimed he was not aware of Fuentes before meeting him at the dinner. Trump’s defense of Carlson comes after the former Fox News anchor has been a vocal critic of the Trump administration’s foreign policy, including over the president’s apparent desire for regime change in Venezuela.