JD Vance tells Joy Reid to show ‘little gratitude’ for her life in US over talk on racism

JD Vance was responding to a resurfaced video of Joy Reid talking about the US not being a 'land of opportunity' for Black people
UPDATED OCT 3, 2025
JD Vance said Joy Reid 'oozes with contempt' over her remarks on racism in the US (Joe Raedle/Getty Images, Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for ESSENCE)
JD Vance said Joy Reid 'oozes with contempt' over her remarks on racism in the US (Joe Raedle/Getty Images, Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for ESSENCE)


 

WASHINGTON, DC: Vice President JD Vance aimed at former MSNBC host Joy Reid, urging her to be more thankful for the opportunities she has had in America. 

The exchange came after an old clip of Reid online, where she spoke about her mother’s disappointment with the United States after moving from Guyana.

Vance, who has clashed with Reid before, used the moment to share what he called non-trolling advice. He even asked her to be a happy person in life. 

CANTON, OHIO - JULY 28: U.S. Vice President JD Vance speaks at Metallus, a metal products manufacturer, on July 28, 2025 in Canton, Ohio. Vance is traveling in Ohio to promote what the Trump administration says are the benefits of the
Vice President JD Vance speaks at Metallus, a metal products manufacturer, on July 28, 2025, in Canton, Ohio (Maddie McGarvey-Pool/Getty Images)

JD Vance tells Joy Reid that gratitude would bring happiness

On Thursday, October 2, JD Vance replied to a video of Joy Reid posted by a conservative X (formerly Twitter) account called End Wokeness. The clip was from a talk she gave in March at Xavier University in New Orleans with writer Ta-Nehisi Coates.

In the discussion, Reid said her mother quickly realized that America was not the land of opportunity she had hoped for.

“My mother got the rude awakening, like, oh, it’s racist here, that’s weird,” Reid said. She added that her mother felt this was “not a land of opportunity” for Black people.

Vance criticized her comments, saying she should recognize the good things she has gained in the US. 

“Joy Reid has had such a good life in this country. It’s been overwhelmingly kind and gracious to her. She is far wealthier than most. Yet she oozes with contempt,” he wrote on X.

“My honest, non-trolling advice to Joy Reid is that you’d be a much happier person if you showed a little gratitude,” the vice president added. 

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JULY 07: Joy Reid speaks during the 2024 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture™ Presented By Coca-Cola® at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 07, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for ESSENCE)
Joy Reid speaks during the 2024 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture™ Presented By Coca-Cola® at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 7, 2024, in New Orleans, Louisiana (Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

Internet reacts to JD Vance commenting on resurfaced Joy Reid video

Social media users quickly responded to JD Vance's remark, with some supporting him while others sided with Joy Reid.

One who sided with Vance claimed, "In fact, she’s been FAR MORE fortunate than most as she’s admitted to getting into Harvard for having the right skin color despite inferior qualifications."



 

Another took a shot at Reid, writing, "Just imagine how much more successful she could have been in Guyana without all the racism!"



 

Supporting Reid, someone else shared, "Joy Reid worked hard and overcame many obstacles to be where she is today. Nobody gave her a small $1 million loan to start up life. She doesn’t owe gratitude to you or anyone else. And if you don’t like her using her platform to speak truth to power, no matter how uncomfortable, then that’s a YOU problem."



 

Another critical comment read, "Imagine naming your kid Joy and never seeing her display any."



 

One more said, "Joy Reid should book a one way, first class ticket to Guyana, she can easily afford it thanks to the U.S. after all, and then let us know how it goes."



 

Joy Reid and JD Vance's past clash

This is not the first time JD Vance and Joy Reid have clashed publicly.

In September, Reid suggested on Don Lemon’s podcast that the vice president only got into Yale because of his background.

“Maybe the way that JD Vance got into Yale is because they were tired of just letting in White men from New York, from all the elite schools, and they wanted an Appalachian White. That’s how that man got into Yale, I promise you,” she said.

Vance dismissed her words by sharing a meme of himself.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.

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