Former Bravo star Jennifer Welch went viral for violent rhetoric on her podcast where she appeared to metaphorically call on her audience to keep ‘pistols firing’ at Vice President JD Vance and to defeat him at the ballot box in 2028.

Podcaster Jennifer Welch called for the defeat of Vice President JD Vance and urged people to keep "pistols firing" toward him, drawing criticism on social media Tuesday.

During a recent segment on the "I’ve Had It" podcast, Welch condemned Vance, arguing that, during his "woke era," he married second lady Usha Vance, an Indian American, and had children but now views his family as a burden as he seeks to portray himself as President Donald Trump's successor as leader of the MAGA movement.

"I don't know what Peter Thiel did to him. I can only imagine," she said of the billionaire megadonor who has been a longtime benefactor of Vance. "You can only imagine.

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"But he came out a complete antichrist-style sociopath," Welch continued. 

"And considering that's all Peter Thiel talks about, the antichrist, when he himself acts like one and now his little protégé acts like one. JD Vance thinks two years from now he's going to be president of the United States, and we need to keep firing, pistols firing at all time towards this guy, because he is not fit to be a father. 

"He's not fit to be a husband. He's not fit to be a vice president.

Podcaster Jennifer Welch's controversial rhetoric about Vice President JD Vance quickly went viral. (Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for GLAAD; Daniel Heuer-Pool/Getty Images)

"He is a failed drag queen and a pathological liar to his core," she added. "And if he wants to inherit this cult, let him have it. Let him have it. And we will go to the polls and kick their a----."

The segment was widely shared on social media, drawing criticism from commentators.

Political rhetoric invoking violence, even when used metaphorically, has faced heightened scrutiny after the assassination attempts against President Donald Trump and the 2025 killing of Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk.

Shortly after Kirk’s death in 2025, Welch laughed on her podcast as she shared footage of a "No Kings" protester celebrating Kirk’s death, adding that Democrats needed to cater to such voters going forward.

"So, listen up, Democratic establishment," Welch had said on her podcast. "You can either jump on board with this s---, or we're coming after you in the same way that we come after MAGA. Period."

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Jennifer Welch, co-host of the "I've Had It" podcast, was an Oklahoma City-based interior designer who starred in the short-lived Bravo reality show "Sweet Home Oklahoma" from 2017-2018. ("I've Had It" YouTube channel)

Elizabeth Pipko, host of "Made in America with Elizabeth Pipko" and a former Republican National Committee national spokesperson, spoke to Fox News Digital about the viral clip.

"The use of the word 'pistols' and the suggestion that people need to keep firing them at Vice President JD Vance is not just horrific and dangerous. It's the kind of rhetoric that raises serious questions about whether a threat has been made and whether authorities may need to investigate," Pipko said. 

"But what makes these comments particularly disturbing is the context surrounding them," she continued. "Normally, when a public figure is condemned for inflammatory language, there's an argument that emotions got the better of them, that their words were taken out of context and that they never intended to suggest violence. Here, the rest of the statement strongly suggests otherwise.

"Jennifer Welch’s words show she knew what she was doing and saying and is proud of that, regardless of any potential risk to the vice president or his family," Pipko added. "And, frankly, I don't know where anyone finds the arrogance or cruelty to tell someone who they don’t know personally that they're unfit to be a husband or a father.

"Political disagreements are one thing. This is vile. You don't have to like JD Vance. You don't have to agree with a single policy he supports," she said. 

"But condemning language that invokes violence against him should be the easiest thing in the world. And I sincerely hope that anyone on the left who encounters her or these comments chooses to speak out."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE

Vice President JD Vance speaks during a campaign rally at Tyler Pounds Regional Airport Oct. 13, 2026, in Tyler, Texas. (Saul Loeb/Pool/Getty Images)

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The White House, Vance’s team and Peter Thiel did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's requests for comment.

Alexander Hall is an associate editor for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to Alexander.hall@fox.com.

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