In the days since JD Vance was named the Republican vice-presidential nominee, he’s been under fire for previously calling Democrats such as Vice President Harris “a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable” — including from some conservatives who argue he risks alienating women who might otherwise vote for Donald Trump.
Now, Trump himself is weighing in: Vance, he said, “loves family,” and there isn’t “anything wrong in saying that.” But Trump also said that, for his part, he thinks not having children is “just as good” as having a family.
“I know so many people. They never met the right person, male or female … just never met the right person,” Trump told Fox News host Laura Ingraham in a Monday night interview. “They’re unbelievable. They’re every bit as good as anybody else that has the most beautiful family.”
“For [Vance], he likes family,” Trump continued. “I think a lot of people like family. And sometimes it doesn’t work out. And you know why … you don’t meet the right person or you don’t meet any person, but you’re just as good — in many cases … a lot better than a person that’s in a family situation.”
Vance’s comments, made to right-wing media personality Tucker Carlson in 2021, have been resurfacing on social media now that Harris is the likely Democratic nominee, forcing the Trump campaign to contain the fallout.
Ingraham asked Trump about the media coverage and what she referred to as “backbiting” — including from some Republicans — who she said are “stereotyping” Vance as an “out-of-control, knee-jerk, conservative male” and what the former president would say to “reassure” viewers that Vance was an “excellent pick” as a running mate.
While Trump did not cite the “childless cat ladies” remark in his answer, he said Vance “made a statement about families” and added that “he grew up in a very interesting family situation, and he feels family is good.” (In his best-selling memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy,” Vance wrote about growing up in a difficult family and the stabilizing influence of his grandmother.)
“I don’t think there’s anything wrong in saying that,” said Trump, who has five children from three marriages, later adding that “the Democrats are good at spinning things differently from where they were.”
Vance, when given an opportunity to address the controversy, said he didn’t mean to criticize “people who, for various reasons, didn’t have kids” and was instead critiquing the “anti-child” left. Still, he seemed to reiterate what he called the “substance” of his remarks: “Obviously, it was a sarcastic comment. I’ve got nothing against cats,” Vance said on the Megyn Kelly Show on Sirius XM on Friday. “… The simple point that I made is that having children — becoming a father, becoming a mother — I really do think it changes your perspective in a pretty profound way.”
Vance’s 2021 comments referred to Harris, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and others — lamenting how “the entire future of the Democrats is controlled by people without children.” Those without children “don’t really have a direct stake” in the country’s future, he added.
Harris, 59, became a stepmom of two when she married Doug Emhoff in 2014 and has been deeply involved in the lives of stepchildren Ella and Cole. Buttigieg and his husband adopted twins.
Vance spokesman William Martin told The Post this week that it was “no surprise” Democrats were attacking Vance and that the campaign was planning to highlight the Biden administration’s record on inflation and immigration. “Those are the issues voters actually care about,” Martin said.
As the comments went viral online, many celebrities and media personalities — including actress Jennifer Aniston — reminded Vance that having a child is not an option for everyone because of medical or other reasons. Others seemed to embrace the label — making memes and merchandise to rally childless cat owners to vote for Harris in November.
Even Republicans joined in the criticism. Fox News commentator Tomi Lahren called Vance’s comment a “Bad move!”
“Trump needs support from women and independents and as a woman, I can tell you that referring to female voters as ‘cat ladies’ or pointing out their lack of kids isn’t gonna do JACK to win them over,” she said. “Offending your potential voters over something as personal as maternal status is stupid.”
Meghan McCain, talk show host and daughter of the late Republican senator John McCain of Arizona, posted on X that “in politics if you’re explaining you’re losing” and urged Vance to tighten his talking points.
“I have been trying to warn every conservative man I know — these JD comments are activating women across all sides, including my most conservative Trump supporting friends,” she wrote on X. “These comments have caused real pain and are just innately unchristian. This is not who we are.”