Usha Vance Responds to Media's 'Caricature' of Her Husband JD Vance

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In an interview that will air on Monday morning on Fox News, Usha Vance says that the media has created a "caricature" of her husband JD Vance, Donald Trump's running mate in this year's election.

A clip of Usha Vance's recorded interview with Ainsley Earhardt was released Sunday as the Ohio senator's wife answered questions in an extended interview amid concerns that her husband is negatively impacting the Republican ticket.

Recent polls indicate that the junior senator could potentially hinder the former president's reelection chances in November. In addition, JD Vance has sparked controversy and backlash due to past remarks about women and families that have recently resurfaced.

"You look at the news sometimes and you just see this caricature of a human. And he's a really good person," Usha Vance told Earhardt. "I wish people would pause and actually listen to the words he says and try to understand their meaning and purpose."

The controversy surrounding JD Vance comes after Democrats have taken aim at the Republican labeling him "weird and creepy" following resurfaced remarks he made saying the United States is run by "childless cat ladies" during an interview with Fox News in 2021 while running for U.S. Senate, pointing to Vice President Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic nominee who began her bid for the White House after President Joe Biden stepped down from the 2024 race on July 21, as an example.

Despite facing criticism, Vance has stood firm on his statements, recently telling Megyn Kelly on her SiriusXM show, "I know the media wants to attack me and wants me to back down on this, Megyn, but the simple point that I made is that having children, becoming a father, becoming a mother, I really do think it changes your perspective in a pretty profound way."

Meanwhile, a recent poll by Florida Atlantic University and Mainstreet Research USA conducted between July 26 and 27 revealed that JD Vance has a net approval rating of -3 percentage points among registered voters. The survey found that 44 percent of respondents viewed him unfavorably compared to 41 percent who held a favorable opinion.

A spokesperson for JD Vance's office declined to comment to Newsweek when reached via phone Sunday afternoon. The spokesperson noted that Usha Vance's interview with Fox & Friends will cover a wide range of topics.

Vance family in Minnesota
Republican vice-presidential nominee U.S. Senator JD Vance, an Ohio Republican, carries his daughter Maribel as he and his wife Usha Vance greet supporters on July 28 in St. Cloud, Minnesota. In an interview that will... AFP/Getty Images

Usha Vance, the daughter of Indian immigrants, was raised in San Diego before meeting her husband at Yale Law School. They were married in 2014 and have three children. An attorney, Usha Vance clerked for Supreme Court Justice John Roberts and Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh before he was nominated to the Supreme Court.

In her interview with Earhardt, Usha Vance asserted that her husband is a "real person."

"He has all sorts of dorky interests that anyone of our age could relate to. I think he really cares about having a good conversation, about actually changing things for people who have had a very hard time in this country, and changing it for the better, letting them have the kinds of lives that he's been lucky enough to have himself," she said.

Usha Vance's interview will air on Monday's Fox & Friends at 6 a.m. ET.

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About the writer

Gabe Whisnant is a Breaking News Editor at Newsweek based in North Carolina. Prior to joining Newsweek in 2023, he directed daily publications in North and South Carolina. As an executive editor, Gabe led award-winning coverage of Charleston church shooter Dylan Roof's capture in 2015, along with coverage of the Alex Murdaugh double murder trial. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina-Wilmington. You can get in touch with Gabe by emailing g.whisnant@newsweek.com. Find him on Twitter @GabeWhisnant.


Gabe Whisnant is a Breaking News Editor at Newsweek based in North Carolina. Prior to joining Newsweek in 2023, he ... Read more