Republican J.D. Vance Mocked Over 'Sex Changes' Remark

Senator J.D. Vance, an Ohio Republican, urged President Joe Biden to "ask the Greatest Generation what they feel about sex changes for minors" during a Fox News interview on Sunday, drawing mockery from social media users.

On Sunday morning, Fox News host Maria Bartiromo asked Vance about the president's recent ad campaign against former President Donald Trump, the presumptive GOP 2024 presidential nominee.

Released just days after the 80th anniversary of D-Day, Biden who is in France for the remembrance ceremonies, released an ad video compilation of comments Trump has said about veterans, including calling them "losers" and "suckers."

Biden "made up these ridiculous accusations that Donald Trump doesn't respect veterans," Vance said. The former U.S. Marine defended Trump, saying he was with him during commemoration services where the former president continually spoke highly of those who have served. Vance is also a potential vice-presidential contender for Trump's campaign.

Meanwhile, Trump's campaign team emailed Newsweek on Sunday with a statement from Chris LaCivita, Trump's co-campaign manager, in response to the Biden-Harris ad: "Joe Biden has disrespected U.S. service members by calling them 'silly b*******,' showed his lack of empathy by repeatedly checking his watch during a solemn ceremony for soldiers killed during the catastrophic Afghanistan withdrawal, and has been criticized by Gold Star families for his lack of respect. The fact is that under Biden, America is weaker on the world stage and has made America more vulnerable."

Vance told Bartiromo on Sunday that Biden's meeting with members of the Greatest Generation—Americans born in the first two decades of the 20th century, many of whom fought in World War II—was an attempt to "cover himself in glory."

He called the move "disgraceful," saying Biden was "covering himself in the glory of the very people who fought for something that he is trying to destroy," referring to his earlier comment about the Greatest Generation having liberated "a continent from fascism and tyranny."

In a Saturday post on X, formerly Twitter, Vance wrote in response to the Biden campaign's ad: "As a veteran, this smear from Joe Biden is particularly disgusting. On the anniversary of D-day, I spent all day with Donald Trump. He spoke repeatedly, in public and in private, of his reverence for America's Greatest Generation."

Vance then said on Sunday that Biden should "ask the Greatest Generation what they feel about sex changes for minors," a comment that has since caused a stir on X.

Newsweek has reached out to Vance's press team and the White House press office for comment via email on Sunday.

Journalist Aaron Rupar, who has more than 900,000 followers on the social media platform, posted a short segment of Vance's interview and wrote, "ask them what they feel about men wearing eyeliner on TV while you're at it."

X user, @Lisa_Liberal, whose bio says, "I've never voted Republican," shared the video segment and wrote: "Irony is officially dead. J.D. Vance who wears more eyeliner and make up than Adam Lambert. Sharing his sh****, bigoted remarks against the transgender community."

Social media users have previously accused the senator of using eyeliner, although they have provided no evidence to support the claims.

Ron Filipkowski, a former prosecutor and the editor-in-chief of liberal outlet MeidasTouch, reposted the video on Sunday morning, writing on X that they should instead be asked about a slew of common attacks lobbed against Trump, including his recent "34 felony convictions."

On Thursday, Trump shared a video to Truth Social, his social media platform, of him speaking to four D-Day veterans by video call where he said it was an "honor listening" to them. He added that he would invite them to the White House in January if he wins reelection in November.

Meanwhile, sex change surgery for minors is very rare. Youths seeking gender-affirming care are more likely to receive gender-affirming therapy or hormone therapy, such as puberty-blocking medications. Medical professionals and LGBTQ+ advocates often recommend gender-affirming surgeries after age 18, with some exceptions.

"The World Professional Association for Transgender Health, a global group that sets standards for medical care of trans youths and adults, recommended last year that hormone treatment start no earlier than 14 years old and surgeries be offered only in rare exceptions in persons as young as 15," the Associated Press reported.

Between 2017 and 2021, 17,683 U.S. patients ages 6 through 17, with a prior gender dysphoria diagnosis initiated either puberty blockers or hormones, according to Komodo data analyzed by Reuters in 2022. From 2019 to 2021, Komodo found 56 genital surgeries and at least 776 mastectomies among patients ages 13 to 17, with a prior gender dysphoria diagnosis.

This year, the Biden administration expanded Title IX to protect transgender students from sex-based discrimination in public schools, which led several Republican-led states, such as Texas, to sue.