Comments made by JD Vance, Donald Trump’s running mate, in 2021 questioning Vice President Kamala Harris’ leadership for not having biological children have resurfaced, putting the conservative senator under scrutiny as he kicks off his campaign for the Republican presidential ticket.
During his Senate campaign in Ohio, Vance claimed in a Fox News interview that “we are effectively run in this country via the Democrats,” labeling them as “a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives, making the rest of the country miserable too.” This remark encompassed Harris, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat from New York.
Vance questioned, “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?” He overlooked that Harris became a stepmother in 2014 and Buttigieg and his husband adopted twins in September 2021, prior to Vance’s remarks.
The fallout from Vance’s comments has gained traction online, notably with public figures commenting on the implications of his statements.
The response from Harris’ campaign vehemently opposed Vance’s perspective, asserting that “every single American has a stake in this country’s future.” They criticized Vance and Trump for what they labeled as “ugly, personal attacks” aligned with their controversial agenda to restrict abortion rights, undermine democracy, and cut Social Security.
The resurgence of Vance’s comments may signal challenges for the Republican ticket in appealing to women voters and addressing reproductive rights as the campaigning heats up, especially with Harris entering the race after quickly securing the delegate support necessary for her nomination following President Joe Biden’s reelection announcement.
Strategists have voiced concerns that Trump’s choice of Vance, who has less than two years in Congress and remains largely untested on a national scale, carries significant risk. Trump has praised Vance’s appealing on-screen presence, likening him to “a young Abraham Lincoln.”
At 39, Vance, a former Marine and businessman who entered public office in 2022, garnered attention with his book “Hillbilly Elegy.” His personal experiences growing up in poverty in Appalachia and dealing with family drug addiction resonate with core voters.
As Vance continues his campaign, a critical question arises regarding his stance on abortion. He has previously indicated support for a national abortion ban at 15 weeks of pregnancy.
In a 2021 speech, Vance proposed the controversial idea of parents casting ballots on behalf of their children, arguing that individuals without children “don’t have as much of an investment in the future of the country.” He suggested that parents should wield greater influence in the democratic process compared to non-parents, affirming the notion that parents deserve a larger voice in shaping democracy.
