Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) defended himself against criticism of his past remark about “childless cat ladies,” suggesting that Democrats are deliberately distorting his words. Speaking on NBC’s “Meet the Press” Sunday, Vance described the backlash as a misinterpretation of his sarcastic comment.
Vance expressed regret over the misunderstanding, particularly criticizing the Democratic National Committee and Kamala Harris for what he called false representations of his statement. He had previously commented on a 2021 Senate campaign, claiming that Democrats were driven by an “antifamily” agenda led by “miserable” individuals who lacked children and wished to impose their dissatisfaction on others.
Vance responds to controversy over his ‘childless cat ladies’ comment, arguing it was meant as satire and criticizing Democrats for their reaction
The remark has resurfaced following Vance’s announcement as Trump’s running mate. He has repeatedly characterized the statement as a sarcastic joke, arguing that his focus should remain on policy issues rather than past comments. Vance acknowledged that he sometimes makes controversial remarks but insisted that such comments are not his primary concern.
The “childless cat ladies” comment has become a focal point among some Democrats, especially female voters, since Biden’s campaign ended and Harris emerged as the frontrunner. During the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Oprah Winfrey referenced the remark in a speech about helping others despite differences, eliciting enthusiastic responses.
Harris’s campaign has capitalized on the controversy, selling merchandise with slogans related to the remark. Although Vance did not issue a direct apology, he stated his intention was to highlight concerns about the challenges facing families in today’s economy. He emphasized his empathy for women facing difficult family-related decisions.
