Vance: Stop Belittling ‘Thoughts and Prayers’
Following a tragic mass shooting at a church in Minneapolis that claimed the lives of two children, political leaders are once again clashing over the role of “thoughts and prayers” in the face of gun violence.
On Wednesday, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey expressed frustration with those offering only condolences rather than concrete solutions. “Thoughts and prayers are not enough,” he said, criticizing what he sees as a lack of action in response to repeated tragedies.
A day later, Vice President JD Vance defended the practice, pushing back on what he called unfair criticism from the political left. “It is shocking to me that so many left-wing politicians attack the idea of prayer in response to a tragedy,” Vance wrote on social media. “Literally no one thinks prayer is a substitute for action. We pray because our hearts are broken and we believe that God is listening.”
The divide reflects a broader partisan split. Former White House press secretary and MSNBC host Jen Psaki also criticized the phrase, writing: “Prayer is not freaking enough. It does not end school shootings … (or) bring these kids back. Enough with the thoughts and prayers.”
Her remarks drew a sharp rebuke from Karen Hamilton, a Republican candidate for the Virginia House of Delegates, who accused Psaki of “belittling” faith and called her “spiritually blind.”
Democratic Representative Maxwell Frost of Florida echoed Mayor Frey’s sentiment in an MSNBC appearance, saying, “We’ve had it with the ‘thoughts and prayers’ for years—and for decades.”
On the other side, conservative commentator Scott Jennings defended faith-based responses during an appearance on CNN. Responding directly to Mayor Frey’s comments, Jennings said, “I think it’s wrong, frankly, to vilify or attack people of faith. You said, ‘Thoughts and prayers ring hollow.’ I say thoughts and prayers are the most solid on days of tragedy for people who live their faith every day.”
As the nation processes yet another mass shooting, the debate highlights enduring tensions between calls for policy change and expressions of spiritual solidarity.
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