JD Vance Rebukes Jen Psaki Over Prayer Criticism: ‘We Pray Because Our Hearts Are Broken’
(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Vice President JD Vance rebuked MSNBC host Jen Psaki on Thursday over her commentary on prayer in the wake of the shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis on Wednesday.
Psaki wrote the following on X shortly after the attack, which left two children dead and many more injured: “Prayer is not freaking enough. Prayers does not end school shootings. Prayers do not make parents feel safe sending their kids to school. Prayer does not bring these kids back. Enough with the thoughts and prayers.”
Vance answered Psaki’s post, writing, “We pray because our hearts are broken. We pray because we know God listens. We pray because we know that God works in mysterious ways, and can inspire us to further action. Why do you feel the need to attack other people for praying when kids were just killed praying?”
Vance continued in a second post, “Of all the weird left wing culture wars in the last few years, this is by far the most bizarre. “How dare you pray for innocent people in the midst of tragedy?!” What are you even talking about?”
Psaki, who has children around the same ages as those killed in the shooting, broke down during her show open on Wednesday night.
“I have felt a mixture of anger, a lot of anger, and emotional exhaustion about this today as I’m sure many of you have, because we have been here so many times. So many times!” She continued:
And yet again, like clockwork, half of the politicians in our country have little more to offer than thoughts and prayers. That is all they are offering.
“Join us all, join all of us in praying for the victims” was Vice President JD Vance’s response today. That’s what he said. That’s it.
“Please join me in praying for everyone involved,” Trump wrote.
We have seen this play out over and over again. There is a shooting, then come the thoughts and prayers, and then comes the attempt to shift the focus. This is what always happens.
Psaki wasn’t the only one calling for action over “thoughts and prayers.”
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey joined her show Wednesday night where he reiterated what he said during an earlier press conference:
“Of course, ‘thoughts and prayers.’ Fine, great, yeah, I believe in prayer. But these kids were literally praying, though,” said Frey. “And so we have to do a whole hell of a lot more right now. Words are not enough.”
