Jen Psaki mocks Vance as Trump jets off without him: 'Doing his homework while Dad's away'
May 13, 2026
Vice President JD Vance drew sharp ridicule from MS NOW host Jen Psaki on Tuesday after he gleefully announced the suspension of more than $1.3 billion in Medicaid payments to California — a move Psaki framed as a naked bid for attention while his political rivals grabbed the spotlight.
"JD Vance is desperately trying to remind dad he's still his most special boy," Psaki quipped on her show, mocking the announcement as political theater designed to keep Vance relevant while Secretary of State Marco Rubio accompanied President Donald Trump to China. "He's still doing his homework, even though dad's away on his big work trip."
Vance himself joked about the seeming disconnect, comparing himself to Macaulay Culkin's character in "Home Alone."
The Trump administration's Medicaid cuts, which California's attorney general said will gut programs that help seniors and people with disabilities remain in their homes, were unveiled with what Psaki described as unusual fanfare — "tons of pomp and circumstance."
The timing was no accident, she argued. Vance made the announcement the day before California Gov. Gavin Newsom was scheduled to unveil the state's annual budget, delivering a one-two punch intended to dominate news cycles and put Newsom on defense.
"Politically speaking, today was kind of a twofer," Psaki said. "He got some headlines to stay relevant while Marco got to ride on the big plane to go do big boy stuff in China. And he got to attack Gavin Newsom."
Newsom is widely considered one of Vance's most formidable potential rivals in the 2028 presidential race, making California a particularly attractive target for the vice president's political maneuvering.
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