Uncovered texts reveal lengthy conversations between JD Vance and Holocaust denier

Donald Trump’s running mate texted extensively with a right-wing activist known for spreading fabricated smear campaigns against Democrats and even denying the atrocities of the Holocaust during a Reddit Ask Me Anything (AMA) discussion.

JD Vance and Charles (”Chuck”) Johnson conversed about a wide range of subjects, according to text messages obtained by The Washington Post, including the war in Ukraine, UFOs, US-Israel policy and Jeffrey Epstein. The conversation occurred over the encrypted messaging app Signal; the texts were provided to the Post by Johnson as Vance seeks the vice presidency on the Republican 2024 ticket.

A spokesperson for the Ohio senator confirmed the validity of the texts but claimed to the Post that Johnson “spam” texted Vance, and that the senator only responded to “push back” against Johnson’s wilder claims.

“JD usually ignored him, but occasionally responded to push back against things he said,” William Martin told the Post.

But the examples published by the Post do not only show moments of disagreement between the men. Vance can also be seen soliciting Johnson’s opinion on various topics, while making admissions and other remarks of his own seemingly aimed at impressing the far-right conservative activist.

“Dude I won’t even take calls from Ukraine,” Vance wrote in October of 2023, in one text obtained by the Post. “Two very senior guys reached out to me. The head of their intel. The head of the Air Force. Bitching about F16s.”

In other moments, though, Johnson could be seen badgering the senator over his connections to donors such as Sheldon Adelson and his former law professor Amy Chua, as well as his political positions. Vance clearly grows irritated with Johnson in one exchange obtained