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Vice President JD Vance ignited a political firestorm Sunday during a keynote address at Turning Point USA’s America Fest conference, mocking Texas Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett for what he called a “street-girl persona” and “fake nails.”
The remarks, delivered before a crowd of thousands of young conservatives, quickly drew cheers from attendees — and a blistering response from Crockett.
“Jasmine Crockett!” Vance said, pausing for effect as the crowd roared. “Oh, Jasmine Crockett — the record speaks for itself. She wants to be a senator, though her street-girl persona is about as real as her nails!”
The vice president’s jab was part of a broader takedown of what he described as “Democratic hypocrisy and identity politics,” arguing that members of the left project “performative outrage” while ignoring real issues affecting working-class Americans.
Crockett, who represents a Dallas-area congressional district and has announced her bid to unseat Republican Sen. John Cornyn in 2026, swiftly responded on social media, taking a swipe at Vance and invoking the events of January 6, 2021.
“The only reason you’re the vice president is because the current president tried to have his last vice president killed,” Crockett wrote, a statement that was widely shared among progressive commentators but criticized by conservatives as inflammatory and false.
WATCH:
President Donald Trump has repeatedly denied any connection to violence at the Capitol that day, noting that he called for supporters to “peacefully and patriotically make their voices heard.”
Testimony and contemporaneous documents show Trump had requested additional National Guard security days before the protest — a request the Pentagon and D.C. leadership failed to implement in time.
Vance’s speech underscored his continued effort to brand himself as the voice of “middle America” — the populist wing of the Trump administration that views the Washington establishment as corrupt and disconnected.
The event, hosted by Turning Point USA, drew several high-profile conservative figures including Megyn Kelly and political commentator Tucker Carlson. The conference also carried an emotional tone, as organizers honored the group’s late founder Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated in Utah in September.
Crockett’s comments were widely covered by legacy media outlets, many of which framed Vance’s remarks as sexist or racially charged. But conservatives countered that his criticism targeted Crockett’s “inauthenticity,” not her identity.
“Jasmine Crockett’s entire persona is a manufactured act,” said one GOP strategist. “She grew up wealthy, went to private schools, and now pretends to be something she’s not. JD called that out.”
The Texas Senate race is expected to be one of the most closely watched in the country, pitting Crockett’s liberal brand of politics against the state’s still-dominant Republican establishment.
Cornyn, a four-term senator, has signaled he intends to run again but faces potential primary challengers within the GOP.
Vance’s comments also signal that the Trump administration may play an active role in defending Republican incumbents while elevating new populist voices across the map.
His America Fest speech included strong criticism of the “corporate media,” “left-wing race-baiting,” and “fake populists who pretend to represent the working class.”
While Crockett’s retort earned applause from progressives, even some Democrats privately questioned her choice of words.
“This kind of rhetoric plays well on social media, but it’s toxic for a statewide campaign in Texas,” said one Democratic strategist, who requested anonymity to speak candidly. “She just handed the GOP a fundraising bonanza.”
For Vance, the moment reinforced his willingness to confront the left’s most outspoken figures head-on — and his message landed with a receptive crowd.
“They mock working-class Americans while pretending to be one of them,” he told the audience. “We don’t need phonies representing the people anymore. We need authenticity, integrity, and courage.”
