On Wednesday, November 26, 2025, JD Vance, the 50th Vice President of the United States, stood before a crowd of U.S. Army soldiers at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and asked a simple, surprisingly human question: "Who really likes turkey?" It wasn’t a political speech. It wasn’t a policy address. It was a Thanksgiving visit — raw, real, and deeply personal — delivered one day before the nation would gather around tables full of stuffing and gravy.
A Holiday Visit with Heart
The event, held at 1001 12th Street, Fort Campbell, KY 42223, was more than ceremonial. It was a rare moment where the weight of the vice presidency softened into something familiar. Vance, 39, spoke not from a teleprompter but from memory, pausing, laughing, and sometimes stumbling over his words — the kind of authenticity that resonates more than polished rhetoric. He joked about turkey, teased soldiers who raised their hands claiming to love the bird, and then, without skipping a beat, turned serious. "You're all full of..." he began, trailing off with a grin. The crowd laughed. But then he added: "...but I know you’re here because you chose to be. And that’s what matters." He thanked his wife and three children. He thanked God. He thanked the American people. But his voice cracked when he said: "One of the things at the very top of the list that I'm thankful for is the United States Army and for the people in this room."From the President, With Gratitude
Vance carried more than just his own words. He delivered a personal message from President Donald J. Trump: "He just wanted to make sure you knew he wished you a happy Thanksgiving and he's grateful for all you do." The message wasn’t scripted — it was the kind of thing a commander-in-chief says when he remembers the faces behind the uniforms. Also present was Dan Driscoll, the Secretary of the Army, who stood quietly beside Vance, nodding as the vice president praised the 101st Airborne Division, the 5th Squadron, and other units deployed or training at the base. Vance called out each by name, a small gesture that meant everything to soldiers who rarely hear their unit’s title spoken in a national spotlight. "We’re here to celebrate each and every one of you," Vance said at 283 seconds into the DWS News recording. "And I know we’ve got some great units here. Shout out to you all."Fort Campbell: A Crucible of Service
Established in 1942, Fort Campbell straddles the Kentucky-Tennessee border — but its heart beats in Kentucky. It’s where soldiers train for combat, where families say goodbye before deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and now, increasingly, to global hotspots where U.S. involvement is often quiet but constant. Over 50,000 military personnel and their families call it home. This wasn’t Vance’s first visit to a military base. But it was his first Thanksgiving one. And the timing mattered. The national holiday — Thanksgiving Day 2025 — fell on Thursday, November 27. For many here, it meant no turkey dinner with grandparents, no football games on the couch, no pumpkin pie passed around the kitchen table. Instead, they stood in formation, in the chill of a Kentucky November, listening to their vice president. "Every single day you show up to work, you put on that uniform and make your nation proud," Vance told them. "You make me proud to be your vice president."
Why This Matters
In an era of political polarization, where leaders are often seen as distant figures on screens, Vance’s visit was a quiet rebellion against the noise. He didn’t campaign. He didn’t lecture. He didn’t use the moment to score political points. He showed up. He listened. He ate with them — reportedly sharing a meal in the mess hall after the speech, according to base personnel. The White House released an official video, and DWS News published two extended recordings — one 21 minutes long, another 15. Both captured moments that no press release could: a soldier wiping his eyes after Vance mentioned his kids, a sergeant clapping so hard his gloves cracked, a young private whispering to his buddy, "Did you hear that? He said he’s proud of us."What’s Next
Vance’s visit sets a tone for the remainder of the administration’s final months. With the 2026 midterm elections looming, military outreach may become a more frequent tool — not just for optics, but for genuine connection. The Pentagon has already signaled that similar visits will occur at bases in Germany, Japan, and Texas before the end of the year. Meanwhile, Fort Campbell’s families are preparing for another deployment cycle. The 101st Airborne is scheduled to begin rotations to the Middle East in early 2026. Vance’s words — simple, heartfelt, unscripted — may be the only comfort some of these soldiers carry into the field.
Background: A Tradition Reaffirmed
Presidents and vice presidents have visited troops on Thanksgiving since World War II. Dwight D. Eisenhower did it in 1952. George H.W. Bush famously ate turkey with sailors on the USS Midway in 1990. But those visits often felt staged. This one didn’t. Vance, a former Marine Corps reservist and author of On Vance: A Memoir of the Heartland, has long positioned himself as a bridge between Washington and the working-class communities that supply much of the military’s manpower. His tone — Midwestern, unpolished, sincere — is a deliberate contrast to the typical D.C. cadence. "As a person who goes into work every single day in that building," he said at 120 seconds, "and knows that there are a lot of people who wear the uniform of the United States Army... let me just say very personally: thank you." That’s not political. That’s human.Frequently Asked Questions
Why did JD Vance visit Fort Campbell on Thanksgiving Eve?
Vance visited Fort Campbell to honor service members who would be away from their families on Thanksgiving Day 2025. As Vice President, part of his duty is to recognize military sacrifice. The visit, held one day before the holiday, allowed him to connect personally with troops before they faced the emotional weight of the holiday without loved ones. It also signaled continuity in presidential support for the armed forces.
What did JD Vance mean when he asked, 'Who really likes turkey?'?
It was a lighthearted, rhetorical joke meant to break the ice and connect with soldiers over a shared cultural experience. Many service members joke that turkey is the one holiday dish nobody truly enjoys — but they eat it anyway because it’s tradition. Vance used the line to show he understood their humor and didn’t take himself too seriously, building rapport before delivering his more emotional remarks.
Was the event politically motivated?
While political observers noted the timing ahead of the 2026 midterms, the tone and content of Vance’s speech were intentionally nonpartisan. He praised the Army without mentioning policy, legislation, or opponents. The White House released the video as part of its routine military appreciation efforts, not as campaign material. Soldiers interviewed afterward said they felt seen — not used.
How did the troops respond to Vance’s speech?
According to DWS News footage and base sources, the response was overwhelmingly positive. Soldiers clapped, laughed, and some were visibly moved. One private told reporters, "I haven’t talked to my mom since August. Hearing him say he’s proud of us… I didn’t expect that." The fact that Vance ate in the mess hall afterward — not in a VIP tent — made a significant impression on morale.
What’s the significance of Fort Campbell in U.S. military operations?
Fort Campbell is home to the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), one of the most rapidly deployable units in the U.S. Army. Since 1942, it has trained soldiers for every major conflict, from Normandy to Afghanistan. With over 50,000 active-duty personnel and families, it’s a critical hub for readiness. Its location on the Kentucky-Tennessee border makes it ideal for large-scale exercises and airlift operations via nearby McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport.
Did President Trump also speak to troops that day?
Yes — but not in person. President Donald J. Trump delivered a separate recorded message, which Vice President Vance read aloud to the troops. The White House published a 27-minute video of Trump’s remarks on November 27, 2025, where he thanked service members and emphasized national security priorities. Vance’s speech served as the in-person extension of that message, making the president’s gratitude feel immediate and tangible.
