Earlier this week, Vice President J.D. Vance’s cousin, Nate Vance, joined the ranks of many relatives of politicians who have spoken out against their relative’s political views.
Nate Vance, who appears to be a first cousin of the vice president, and a Marine who volunteered to fight in Ukraine after Russia’s invasion, came forward after Vance upbraided Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office, along with Donald Trump. Nate also has described himself as “pretty Republican.”
“When [JD Vance] criticized aid to Ukraine, I thought it was because he needed to appeal to his electorate, that it was part of the political game,” Nate Vance said in an interview earlier this week with the French publication Le Figaro, which was translated into English by various American publications. “But what they did to Zelensky was an ambush of absolute dishonesty.”
“Being your family doesn’t mean I’m going to accept you killing my comrades,” Nate Vance added.
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Now, J.D. Vance has responded to what his cousin said, in a statement obtained by The Daily Beast and other media outlets.
JD Vance responds to cousin Nate Vance by saying he should have contacted him first, without addressing his obvious lack of interest about his cousin’s experiences in Ukraine and his own failure to communicate with his pro-Ukrainian relative. https://t.co/611aFHOJNh
— Julia Davis (@JuliaDavisNews) March 11, 2025
“I love my cousin Nate and never spoke publicly about his service in Ukraine because I didn’t want to endanger his life more than it already was,” the vice president said in a statement. “As far as his criticisms, I have no interest in arguing with him in public, but I do feel the need to address one issue in particular: his failed effort to contact me.”
“I always considered Nate the toughest guy I knew, and no matter what he says about me, my affection for him remains. I’m always happy to talk to him.”
Nate Vance appeared for an on-camera interview on CNN on Tuesday. He stated that he attempted to reach out to his cousin but wasn’t sure if he ever received the message.
JD Vance’s cousin Nate Vance on why the Vice President is misguided on Russia: I personally witnessed them shooting their own troops… it’s has happened quite a bit. They are not our allies and they never will be. pic.twitter.com/SX1aWNmTK5
— Acyn (@Acyn) March 10, 2025
Photo courtesy of the Political Tribune media library.
