JD Vance’s quote about ‘wife’s children’ sparks backlash

JD Vance has evoked many reactions during his few years in Washington. The former author and venture capitalist entered politics in June 2021 when he announced he was running for Senate. Just shy of four years later, the father-of-three finds himself working in the White House as the Vice President of the United States.

One of the more controversial statements JD Vance made happened in 2021. In an interview with Fox host Tucker Carlson, he said Democrats were running the US and “a bunch of childless cat ladies.”

Vance’s comment about people not being focused on creating a family caused plenty of controversy. Then, last year, another of his remarks about his children made headlines—or, according to JD, his wife’s children.

Vance’s political career has been short but very successful so far, and it appears that he was destined for a life as a politician. When he returned from his deployment in Iraq with the Marines, Vance landed the “holy grail” of positions as media relations officer within the Marine Corps public affairs division in Cherry Point, North Carolina. The role was usually reserved solely for senior Marines, but with Vance they made an exemption.

“The experience taught me a valuable lesson: That I could do it. I could work 20-hour days when I had to. I could speak clearly and confidently with TV cameras shoved in my face. I could stand in a room with majors, colonels, and generals and hold my own. I could do a captain’s job even when I feared I couldn’t,” Vance wrote in his book.

He perfected his skills, and his hard work didn’t go unnoticed. Curt Keester, a Marine Corps veteran who served with Vance at Cherry Point, recalled when he and his then-colleague traveled to New York City for Fleet Week. As they waited for the wreath-laying ceremony, media outlets approached them.