Vice President JD Vance made a strong statement against animal cruelty during a recent podcast appearance, asserting that those who mistreat dogs are “really terrible” people. His comments, however, have drawn immediate attention due to the past actions of his cabinet colleague, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, creating a potential political awkwardness for the administration.
Speaking on the Pod Force One podcast, Vance was discussing a controversy involving a streamer’s dog when he shared his uncompromising views. “If you can actually cause suffering to an innocent animal, you’re probably the kind of person who doesn’t worry about suffering in people as well,” Vance stated. He went further, claiming that mistreating dogs is a “100 percent sign that you’re gonna be a really terrible person,” and even drew parallels to serial killers like Jeffrey Dahmer.
The vice president’s remarks were quickly highlighted in light of a revelation from Secretary Noem’s 2024 memoir. In her book, “No Going Back,” Noem described an incident where she shot and killed her 14-month-old dog, Cricket, after the animal attacked chickens during a hunting trip. Noem wrote, “I hated that dog,” and stated she “realised I had to put her down.” The admission sparked widespread condemnation from animal rights groups and the public when it was first revealed.
The streamer at the center of the original podcast discussion, Hasan Piker, was among the first to connect Vance’s statement to Noem, posting on social media: “DHS secretary kristi noem point blank executed her puppy.” The juxtaposition of Vance’s moral stance and a cabinet member’s confessed action puts a spotlight on the administration, illustrating how past controversies can resurface in unexpected ways.
