Democratic Rep. Seth Moulton has stirred controversy following his remarks referring to Vice President JD Vance as a "pogue" during his appearance on CNN last week. Moulton, a former Marine with extensive military experience, made the comment during discussions surrounding President Donald Trump's cancellation of a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This meeting had seen tensions rise between Trump and Zelenskyy after the two exchanged heated words prior to the planned signing of a minerals deal.
Joey Jones, Marine Corps veteran and Fox News contributor, criticized Moulton's choice of words on the show "Fox and Friends," labeling the term "pogue"—an informal military term meaning "person other than grunt"—as highly intentional. Jones argued, "What bothers me so much about the way Seth Moulton handled this, number one, ‘pogue’ is a very intentional word, it means ‘person other than grunt.’” He emphasized the derogatory undertone of Moulton's comment, implying it was aimed at trivializing Vance’s service as less honorable.
During the segment, Jones recalled Moulton's previous comments about JD Vance from over a year ago, when he referred to Vance, who had expressed admiration for Moulton's military service, only to later downplay it. Jones stated, "[Moulton] actually said he was a combat Marine, then he goes, ‘Oh, I mean actually, he’s just a combat cameraman.’” This debate about service and the denigration of roles within the military highlighted the significance of every position, irrespective of its combat nature.
Jones, who served as an explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) technician, articulated his frustration with Moulton’s remarks, stating, "To say call JD Vance a coward and to try to denigrate his service, just really, it blows my mind." He continued to stress how derogatory terms can affect not only the individual at whom they are directed but also the broader community of veterans and service members.
Vance himself has served four years as a Marine, including deployment to Iraq. His background as a combat correspondent, as mentioned on the White House website, mirrors the experiences of many non-combat roles within the military, which also demand bravery and contribute to missions effectively. Jones pointed out, "I’m a pogue. I’m a person other than grunt. I wasn’t infantry. I hope my service doesn’t come across as cowardly to you. I hope you respect my service.”
Around the same time, Jones criticized Moulton’s inability to engage substantively with Vance or his policy positions, instead resorting to name-calling. He remarked, "You can’t find an intellectual argument to tell the American people why they’re wrong? You have to call them stupid names like ‘pogue’ and coward." This sentiment reflects the frustration within the veteran community concerning how political discourse often overlooks respect for military service.
Addressing the moral responsibility of politicians, Jones asserted, "I would never call Seth Moulton a coward, because it takes absolute courage or complete stupidity to go on live TV as a Marine Corps officer and call another enlisted Marine who’s risen to vice president a pogue and coward." His remarks encompassed broader questions about the nature of political conversations surrounding military service and respect among service members.
The resulting dialogue serves as a reminder of the delicate nature of discussing military experiences, especially among those with direct connections to service. Moulton’s comments could be seen as not just derogatory to Vance but indicative of larger issues within political narratives about veterans and their contributions, regardless of their specific roles during service.
Jones concluded, emphasizing the importance of respectful communication: "I’d love to know how much Seth Moulton cares about those 13 mostly Marines who were killed at Abbey Gate. I would assume it’s not something he broaches often, and to me, that's borderline cowardice." This call for solemnity reflects the sentiments shared by many within the veteran community who wish to see greater respect and acknowledgment for all forms of service.