JD Vance Tried to Mock a Wounded War Hero — Tammy Duckworth’s Savage Comeback Left Him Silent

Vice President JD Vance tried to score a cheap political joke, but it quickly turned into a moment that many people felt crossed a serious line. The incident began during a tense Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, where Tammy Duckworth, a Democratic senator and decorated war veteran, pressed Marco Rubio on whether the United States was effectively at war with Venezuela.

Rubio insisted the U.S. was not at war, even though the administration has relied on wartime-style legal powers. Duckworth followed up by asking whether, if that was true, Rubio would recommend that the president withdraw the use of the Alien Enemies Act, a law meant for wartime situations. Rubio pushed back, arguing that the U.S. was facing criminal and drug trafficking gangs in what he described as a “war-like setting.”

That exchange appeared to catch Vance’s attention. Instead of engaging with the substance of Duckworth’s question, he took to social media to mock her. In a post, he compared Duckworth to the fictional character Forrest Gump, claiming that watching her challenge Rubio was like watching Forrest Gump argue with Isaac Newton. The comment immediately drew backlash, especially given Duckworth’s background as a Purple Heart recipient and former Army helicopter pilot who lost both legs and part of her right arm after being seriously wounded in Iraq in 2004.

Many people saw Vance’s comment as deeply disrespectful, not just because it targeted a fellow lawmaker, but because it appeared to mock a disabled combat veteran who was injured while serving her country. The comparison struck a nerve, and Duckworth wasted no time responding.

Her reply was sharp and direct. She pointed out that Forrest Gump, the character Vance referenced, ran toward danger during the Vietnam War. She then contrasted that with President Donald Trump, reminding people that he avoided military service by citing bone spurs. Duckworth went further, accusing Vance of using petty insults instead of addressing serious issues, and said that mocking people with disabilities would not change the reality that administration policies could be putting U.S. troops at risk for the benefit of corporate interests, specifically mentioning Chevron’s stock price.

She made it clear that her role as a senator is to ask hard questions and hold leaders accountable, not to stay silent or be intimidated by online taunts. Her response was widely praised across social media, with many calling it powerful, dignified, and devastating in its simplicity.

After that exchange, Vance did not directly respond to Duckworth’s rebuttal. Instead, he posted a separate message praising Rubio, thanking God for a secretary of state who “knows his facts” and has “the patience of Job.” To many observers, the post felt like an attempt to change the subject rather than address the criticism head-on.

The episode sparked broader discussion about respect for veterans, people with disabilities, and the tone of political discourse at a time when tensions are already high. For many, Duckworth’s response stood out as a reminder that experience, sacrifice, and accountability matter far more than social media insults, and that attempts to belittle serious questions can quickly backfire.