JD Vance condemns 'disgusting' religious violence as 'one of the most anti-Christian things'

Vice President JD Vance denounced religious violence as fundamentally opposed to the ideals of Christianity and the United States during a Tuesday press briefing at the White House, a day after a deadly shooting at a San Diego mosque.

"The principle is religious violence is particularly disgusting, especially in the United States of America," Vance said. "As a devout Christian, I would say it's one of the most anti-Christian things and anti-American things that you could do."

"A fundamental principle of all the great faiths is we are all children of God, and because of that, we are endowed by certain rights that are unique to our status as human beings," he continued.

"As a devout Christian, I would say it’s one of the most anti-Christian things and anti-American things that you could do," says @VP on religious violence.

"One of the fundamental American rights that I think came from our Christian heritage as a civilization is the idea that… pic.twitter.com/ejTkk5OSsx

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 19, 2026

Vance noted that religious liberty and allowing others the right to choose and practice their own faith emerged from the Christian heritage embedded in the American system.

"One of the fundamental American rights that, I think, came from our Christian heritage as a civilization is the idea that we respect people's religious freedom, in part, because we respect them as human beings, but also because we respect their right to find their own pathway to God," he continued.

"You can't force anybody to a pathway to God. They have to, through their own free will, find God themselves. That's one of the reasons why that right of religious freedom is the very first right enshrined in our Constitution."

Vance added that acts of violence are "against this fundamental idea that people are created in the image of God, and that they have the right, through their own free will, to find God, whoever they might want."

"As a Christian, of course, you might have your preference for how they find their pathway to God. They have to find that choice," continued Vance, a Roman Catholic whose wife, Usha, is a practicing Hindu. He added that anyone who commits violence against another person in the name of religion is violating the laws of both man and God.

During another point in the briefing, Vance condemned Monday's deadly shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego, the largest mosque in San Diego, California. Three people, including a security guard, were killed in the attack that authorities are investigating as a hate crime. The suspects, aged 17 and 18, were found nearby in a vehicle after dying by suicide, according to The Associated Press.

"I don't know a single person who would say anything other than what I'm about to say, which is that that type of violence in the United States of America is reprehensible," Vance said of the incident, encouraging prayers for those involved.

On Sunday, Vance featured in a pre-recorded address at Rededicate 250: A National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise & Thanksgiving, an all-day prayer festival on the National Mall ahead of the 250th anniversary of American independence.

Noting that George Washington proclaimed in 1783 that "imitation of divine charity is necessary for the mutual affection of our citizenry and the happiness of our nation," Vance said exhibiting such charity is the fruit of understanding and accepting God's love.

"If we do not see that God loves us, we have little reason and little inspiration to love one another. This love, which forms our morality, is the foundation of a peaceful and healthful society. That's why it's so encouraging to see a renewed sense of faith emerging among America's young people," he said.