- Wife defends Vance for a "cat women" comment.
The vice-presidential candidate of the US Republicans, J.D. Vance, is receiving support from his wife after past remarks have caught up with him. Usha Vance told conservative news outlet Fox News that her husband's comments from 2021 about "childless cat women" should be understood in context. She described his language as a "joke" and said he was expressing "how hard it can be for parents in this country and that there are laws that make it even harder".
Presidential candidate Donald Trump introduced Vance as his running mate at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee in mid-July. Shortly after, the 40-year-old came under fire, among other things, for his sexist remarks about childless women.
In an interview in 2021, the father of three referred to leading Democratic politicians, including Vice President Kamala Harris, who is now running for the White House herself, as "childless cat women" who are unhappy with their lives. The clip from back then resurfaced after his rise to Trump's running mate and spread quickly. It was not his only remark in this vein. His stance that childless people should have less say in a democracy has been met with disapproval from many Americans.
Partners, often wives, frequently serve as humanizers in US election campaigns, showing the relatable, empathetic side of candidates. Usha Vance fulfilled this role at the Republican National Convention with a speech to tens of thousands of viewers, painting a picture of an approachable husband.
The United States media outlets have been discussing J.D. Vance's recent elevation as Donald Trump's vice-presidential candidate, with his past remarks about childless women coming under scrutiny. Despite these controversies, Usha Vance, his wife, defended him on Fox News, explaining his comments from 2021 as a joke and expressing sympathy for the challenges faced by parents in the United States of America.
