Vance on joke about columnist’s weight: ‘I feel pretty good about that’

Administration Vance on joke about columnist’s weight: ‘I feel pretty good about that’ Comments: by Finya Swai - 08/07/26 3:47 PM ET Comments: Link copied by Finya Swai - 08/07/26 3:47 PM ET Comments: Link copied

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Vice President Vance defended his jab about Washington Post columnist and Fox News contributor Marc Thiessen’s weight after the price of a $20 burrito sparked a GOP debate over affordability.

In an interview with Salem News Channel’s Hugh Hewitt, Vance doubled down on his fat joke directed at Thiessen as part of an ongoing online conversation about the current price of food and inflation.

“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,” Vance said. “I’m sure it was not as charitable as I should have been.” The exchange began earlier this week when Turning Point USA spokesperson Andrew Kolvet shared a college student’s complaint that a “burrito shouldn’t cost $20,” arguing the sentiment reflects broader frustrations among young voters about affordability and cautioned Republicans not to brush this off.

Thiessen pushed back on the complaint on social media, writing, “Cry me a river. The burritos in the college cafeteria are included in your meal plan.”

Vance then jumped into the debate with a joke about Thiessen’s weight.

“I’m surprised to hear Mark say this,” Vance wrote, misspelling Thiessen’s first name. “If you’ve ever met him in person, it’s quite obvious the man has never missed a burrito.”

Hewitt asked Vance on Thursday whether he regretted “taking a punch at a fellow Catholic,” while interviewing the vice president about his new book on his conversion to Catholicism.

Vance conceded that his comment may have fallen short of the standards of the Catholic faith, but did not express regret.

“I certainly wish him the best. I think he’s been a little unfair to me over the last couple of weeks, and so I decided to hit back with a little spice,” Vance said of Thiessen.

Vance said he looked to Jesus Christ as an example, pointing to Jesus’ humility and “remarkable way with words.”

“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,” he said. “Right now I feel pretty good about that.”

The $20 burrito discussion grew into a wider debate over how Republicans should talk about affordability.

Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) faced backlash after pushing back on complaints about the current cost of food, telling young people to live on a budget with roommates as previous generations did.

“The market doesn’t care what you think something ‘should’ cost,” Crenshaw wrote on social media.

He later sarcastically apologized for “triggering the comment section,” after taking heat online before doubling down and pushing back on whether conservatives should abandon their free-market principles to appeal to voters.

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