Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) called out the “rich irony” of Republican criticism over Vice President Kamala Harris’ reported failure to formally invite incoming Vice President J.D. Vance and his wife, Usha, for a tour of the vice presidential residence.
A CBS report, citing anonymous sources, claimed that “Vice President Kamala Harris has not extended an invitation for a formal sit-down or tour” to the Vance family, sparking outrage among conservatives on social media, who accused Harris of lacking civility.
Kinzinger pushed back on the criticism, tweeting, “Today’s rich irony: Harris didn’t invite JD Vance to the naval observatory. So MAGA is furious. Oh by the way in 2020, Trump didn’t even do a Transition.” He concluded that such hypocrisy “is a feature” of the GOP, not a bug.
Kinzinger also took aim at conservative commentator Tom Fitton, who questioned Harris’ “class.” Kinzinger retorted, “Your dude didn’t invite Biden in 2020 and didn’t even do a transition, so honestly, shut up.”
The controversy highlights lingering tensions from the chaotic 2020 presidential transition, when Donald Trump and his supporters refused to acknowledge Joe Biden’s victory, citing baseless claims of election fraud.
Trump’s refusal to facilitate a traditional transition culminated in the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, when a mob sought to disrupt the certification of Biden’s win.
Adding to the irony, CBS News reported that communication between the Vance team and Navy aides overseeing the vice presidential residence had occurred.
Before Christmas, Navy officials provided the Vances with an overview of the house layout, logistics, and move-in practicalities, according to a person familiar with the discussions.
Special Counsel Jack Smith’s report on the January 6 Capitol attack, released early Tuesday, concluded that Trump likely would have faced conviction for inciting the riot if he had not won the presidency in 2024.
The debate over Harris’ handling of the vice presidential residence underscores a larger trend of partisan double standards. Critics argue that the outrage over an alleged lack of civility ignores the Trump administration’s unprecedented disregard for democratic norms during the last transition of power.