Usha Vance, wife of Sen. JD Vance, shared her insights on handling negative media attention regarding her family following her husband’s selection as Donald Trump’s running mate during an exclusive interview with “Fox & Friends.”
“It can be challenging. Sometimes I miss it, and at other times, I do see it and think, well, this isn’t the JD I know; it’s not accurate. Occasionally, it leads to discussions about our next steps or how we should live our lives. However, we’ve been navigating this for a while now, and I’ve developed a thick skin. I strive to not let it impact how I live,” Vance remarked during her conversation with Fox News’ Ainsley Earhardt, which aired Monday.
Last month, Trump selected the Ohio senator as his running mate. Since then, Vance has faced a wave of negative press and currently holds a negative net favorability rating.
Vance also expressed that she has received valuable guidance from friends on managing media relations.
Usha Vance, wife of JD Vance, had an exclusive conversation with Fox & Friends. (Fox News)
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“A really useful piece of advice I received was to limit my news consumption, not because I want to avoid reality, but because JD is actively engaged in discussing numerous matters. I feel he deserves someone in his life who listens to him directly rather than solely relying on others’ opinions about him. This approach really helps,” she explained.
Earhardt also inquired about Vance’s previous “childless cat ladies” comments from 2021, which faced significant backlash and were interpreted as criticisms of women without children. Sen. Vance has stated that his words were misrepresented.
“I paused to listen closely to what he actually expressed and tried to grasp the context, which I wish more people would do. The truth is, he made a light-hearted remark to support a meaningful point he was making,” Usha Vance commented about the statements.
Sen. JD Vance, Republican vice presidential candidate from Ohio, speaks at a campaign event in Glendale, Arizona, on Wednesday, July 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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When asked what message she would convey to those upset by her husband’s comments, Usha informed Earhardt that her husband “would never, ever mean to hurt anyone who is striving to start a family or is facing difficulties in doing so.”
“He was clear about that then, and he is clear about it now. We have many friends who have faced this issue. It’s a tough situation, and it’s never something anyone would mock. I also recognize there are numerous other valid reasons for choosing not to have children,” she added.
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Usha and JD Vance have been married since 2014 and are parents to three children.
