Trump downplays Vance's importance: "Doesn't have any effect on the election"
If Trump wins the U.S. presidential election in November, Vance is set to be his running mate. However, his future colleague's past sexist comments are coming back to haunt him. When asked about the criticism, Trump half-heartedly defends Vance and downplays his importance in the campaign. At an event before the National Association of Black Journalists in Chicago, Trump said, "He's very family-oriented. But that doesn't mean there's something wrong with not having a family." When asked if Vance, who has little political experience, would be ready for the job from day one, Trump evaded the question, saying, "Historically, the vice president has had no influence on the election."
Trump introduced Vance as his running mate at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee in mid-July. However, Vance is currently facing backlash for various past comments. The most notable: sexist remarks about childless women. The father of three had referred to leading Democratic politicians, including Vice President Kamala Harris, who is now running for the White House, as "childless cat ladies" who are unhappy with their lives in a 2021 interview. The clip resurfaced after his rise to Trump's running mate, spreading rapidly and drawing much criticism.
It wasn't Vance's only remark in that vein. His stance that childless people should have less say in a democracy has been met with disapproval. Additionally, the Republican is struggling with poor poll numbers. The Democratic opposition is also attacking Vance for his lack of experience. At 39, he has only been in the Senate since January 2023 and has no government experience or extensive political history.
Trump said he chose Vance as his running mate because he had risen from difficult circumstances. "He's created an amazing life for himself," the former president said. "I respect people for their success."
Overall, Trump downplayed the role of the vice presidential candidate: there's only "two or three days" of excitement about who the role goes to, "and then it dies down, and it's all about the election of the president." Historically, the selection of the vice president has made no difference in the election.
The US presidential election of 2024 is drawing closer, with Trump announcing Vance as his running mate. Regardless, the sexist comments made by Vance in the past, such as referring to childless political figures as "childless cat ladies," have resurfaced and are causing significant backlash.
