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JD Vance defends 'childless cat ladies' remark, addresses racist attacks on wife
Vance clarified that his criticism was a result of the Democratic Party's perceived anti-family stance.
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JD Vance on the Megyn Kelly Show / Image- Screengrab from the Megyn Kelly Show
In the wake of a strong backlash against his "childless cat ladies" comment directed at Democratic politicians—including Vice President Kamala Harris—Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance has explained his intentions.
Vance defended his comment during an interview on The Megyn Kelly Show, asserting that it was sarcastic and reaffirming his conviction that having children provides a distinctive viewpoint on societal issues. "Obviously, it was a sarcastic comment," Vance stated during the interview. "I've got nothing against cats or dogs. People are focusing so much on the sarcasm and not on the substance of what I actually said. The substance of what I said, Megyn — I'm sorry, it's true."
Vance clarified that his criticism was a result of the Democratic Party's perceived anti-family stance. "These people want to conflate the personal situation here with the fact that I'm making an argument that our entire society has become skeptical and even hateful towards the idea of having kids," he added.
The contrast in this race is simple: Do you want higher inflation and a wide open southern border? Then vote for Kamala Harris.
— JD Vance (@JDVance) July 26, 2024
If you want lower prices, a secure border and to get the fentanyl out of your community, then vote for President Trump. pic.twitter.com/sN6FgcKLeL
The controversial remark
In a 2021 appearance on Fox News, Vance, then running for his Ohio Senate seat, asserted that the U.S. was being run by "a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives and the choices that they've made and so they want to make the rest of the country miserable, too." He singled out Kamala Harris, Pete Buttigieg, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as examples.
"It's just a basic fact — you look at Kamala Harris, Pete Buttigieg, AOC — the entire future of the Democrats is controlled by people without children. And how does it make any sense that we've turned our country over to people who don't really have a direct stake in it?" Vance remarked.
During the interview with Kelly, Vance reiterated that his comments were not intended to criticize individuals who cannot have children for biological or medical reasons. "This is about criticizing the Democratic Party for becoming anti-family and anti-child," he emphasized.
Addressing racist attacks on Usha Vance
In the interview, Vance also acknowledged the racist attacks directed at his wife, Usha Vance, who is of Indian descent, subsequent to his nomination to the Republican ticket.
"Look, I love my wife so much. I love her because she’s who she is," he told Megyn Kelly. "Obviously, she’s not a white person, and we’ve been accused, attacked by some white supremacists over that. But I just, I love Usha."
Far-right figures, including Nick Fuentes, have targeted Usha Vance's Indian heritage, questioning Vance's commitment to white identity. Vance has not publicly condemned these attacks but expressed pride in his wife’s accomplishments as a mother and a lawyer.
"She’s such a good mom. She’s such a brilliant lawyer, and I’m so proud of her. But yes, her experience has given me some perspective on the way in which it’s really hard for working families in this country," Vance said.
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