If you're planning to compliment the turkey at Thanksgiving dinner this year, Vice President JD Vance has some thoughts about your honesty.
During a pre-Thanksgiving visit to Fort Campbell in Kentucky on Wednesday, Vance delivered what might be the most candid take on America's traditional holiday centerpiece that any sitting vice president has ever offered. After asking troops to raise their hands if they genuinely liked turkey, he promptly accused them of lying.
"Here's how I know that every single one of you who raised your hand is lying," Vance said. "How many times do you roast an 18-pound turkey just randomly? Nobody does it because turkey doesn't actually taste that good."
It's hard to argue with his logic. When was the last time someone suggested turkey for a random Tuesday dinner in July? The bird might be patriotic, but apparently that doesn't make it delicious.
Vance didn't stop there, telling servicemembers that those who claimed to enjoy turkey were "full of ****." Still, he acknowledged the bird remains a symbol of an unmistakably American holiday, one he called his favorite.
From Turkey Talk to America First
The vice president tied his holiday roast to President Donald Trump's "America First" message, noting that Thanksgiving's signature meat is "uniquely" American. But the tone shifted quickly from jokes to gratitude, with Vance commending troops for their service.
"The most dangerous and lethal weapon anywhere in the world is a United States soldier," he said, adding that Trump wished them a happy Thanksgiving.
Vance was accompanied by second lady Usha Vance and their children, and later served mashed potatoes and dinner rolls as part of the base's holiday meal.
Tragedy Prompts Immigration Crackdown
The holiday visit came against a darker backdrop. Two National Guard members were shot just blocks from the White House in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. One died Thursday while the second remains in critical condition. The suspect, an Afghan national, is in custody.
The incident prompted Trump to ramp up his crackdown on immigration. Late Thursday, the president announced he would "permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries to allow the U.S. system to fully recover."
So while Vance's turkey takes might be the headline, the real policy developments are happening far from the dinner table.