DISCLAIMER: This article was first published on August 25, 2024
Just when you thought JD Vance couldn’t be any more awkward in his public comments, he goes and says something like this: “My wife has three beautiful children.” Yes, you read that right. In his latest Meet the Press interview with Kristen Welker, Vance was asked to respond to backlash over his “childless cat lady” comment. Instead of engaging with the substance of the critique, Vance chose a bizarre defense that, as usual, revolved around his wife, Usha. But this time, it wasn’t just awkward—it was downright strange.
Let’s start with the obvious question: Why would a father refer to his children as if they belong solely to his wife? This weird phrasing feels detached, almost as if Vance sees himself as a bystander in his own family. It’s not only tone-deaf but also further fuels the perception that he’s disconnected from the very “family values” he loves to preach about.
Kristen Welker gave Vance a prime opportunity to walk back his 2021 comments that referred to childless women—specifically, “cat ladies”—in a dismissive, joking manner. Instead of reflecting on how harmful such a remark could be to millions of women who don’t have children (whether by choice or circumstance), Vance doubled down, insisting his words had been “willfully misinterpreted.” And once again, rather than addressing the valid concerns of women who felt marginalized by his statement, Vance resorted to a story about his wife, a working mother of three children, as though that alone could shield him from any criticism.
It’s weird that JD Vance won’t apologize for his “childless cat lady” comments, but it’s weirder that he continually refers to his own children as belonging solely to his wife: “My wife has three beautiful children.” pic.twitter.com/l6OmNAhK6m
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) August 25, 2024
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The problem with this strategy, aside from being a deflection, is that it makes Vance look like he’s using his wife and children as props to justify his rhetoric. And that bizarre line—”My wife has three beautiful children”—only adds to the disconnect. Most fathers, when talking about their kids, would say “we have three beautiful children.” The fact that Vance framed the comment that way reveals something unsettling about how he views family dynamics. It’s as though he sees himself as outside the equation, which is ironic for someone running on a platform centered around “family values.”
This isn’t the first time Vance has made uncomfortable comments about his wife. In a previous defense of Usha after she was subjected to racist attacks, Vance’s response was equally bizarre. Instead of directly condemning the racism, he said, “Obviously, she’s not a white person…but I love Usha, she’s such a good mom.” How is that an appropriate response to racism? He seemed more interested in reinforcing her role as a mother than addressing the real issue at hand.
All of this begs the question: Why does JD Vance keep bringing up his wife and children in these awkward, disjointed ways? Is it a tactic to shield himself from criticism, or does it reveal something more deeply problematic about his understanding of family and gender roles? Whatever the reason, it’s not working. His comments feel like a smokescreen, designed to distract from his failure to answer real questions about his views and policies.
Welker pressed Vance several times, giving him multiple opportunities to express any regret or acknowledge the offense caused by his “cat lady” remark. Instead, he stuck to his guns, insisting that he’s just a “real person” who says things people might disagree with. But being a “real person” doesn’t give you a free pass to be offensive or dismissive, especially when your words impact millions of women across the country.
When finally asked if he regrets making the comment, Vance delivered the most telling line of all: “I have a lot of regrets, Kristen, but making a joke three years ago is not in the top ten.” If that’s the case, then perhaps JD Vance needs to reevaluate his priorities. Because for many women, the joke was more than just a flippant remark—it was a gut punch.
At the end of the day, Vance’s refusal to take responsibility for his words speaks volumes about the kind of leader he would be. Instead of engaging with the concerns of the women he’s supposed to represent, he hides behind his wife’s accomplishments and his family’s “beauty.” It’s weird, it’s tone-deaf, and it’s not what America needs right now.
