JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground
HTML
<div class="main">
Bla bla bla :)
<a href="#" class="chatlink"><img src="#" /></a>
bla bla bla ...
<a href="#" class="chatlink"><img src="#" /></a>
tra la la la laaa
<a href="#" class="postlink">some text</a>
tralalaaa
</div>
JavaScript
$('div.main:has(.chatlink)').contents().filter(function(){
return this.nodeType == 3 || !$(this).hasClass('chatlink');
}).remove();