Usha Vance Calls Husband's 'Cat Ladies' Comment a Joke

Usha Vance, wife of Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance, defended her husband’s controversial remarks about childless individuals during a Fox News interview on Monday. JD Vance had previously described certain Democratic politicians as “childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives,” a comment made in a 2021 interview with Tucker Carlson. Usha Vance characterized her husband's remarks as a “quip” and emphasized that he never intended to offend those struggling to have families, acknowledging that many choose not to have children for valid reasons. In her first solo interview of the campaign, Usha Vance sought to clarify her husband's stance, asserting that he aims to foster a discussion on how government can better support parents. She highlighted the importance of understanding the challenges faced by families and expressed a desire to improve conditions for those wishing to raise children. Usha Vance also noted that her husband’s comments were part of a broader narrative in his campaign, which focused on the perceived lack of investment childless individuals have in the country’s future. The interview comes amid growing scrutiny of JD Vance's past statements, which have drawn criticism from both liberal and conservative circles. Notably, the Wall Street Journal criticized his remarks as inappropriate, while conservative commentator Ben Shapiro questioned Trump's confidence in Vance as a running mate. Usha Vance urged critics to engage with her husband's intended message rather than fixate on his choice of words. Additionally, Usha Vance addressed reports suggesting that she and her husband had privately criticized Trump before joining his ticket. She defended JD Vance's character and intentions, asserting that personal correspondence shared publicly was taken out of context and misrepresented. She expressed a desire to avoid making assumptions about others based on incomplete information, reflecting on the challenges of public scrutiny.