Ohio Senator JD Vance, who is currently running as Donald Trump’s vice-presidential pick, recently expressed regret over his controversial “childless cat ladies” remark from his 2021 Senate campaign. The backlash reignited as Trump announced Vance as his running mate.
In 2021, Vance made headlines when he criticized Vice President Kamala Harris and other Democratic leaders, suggesting they lacked a “direct stake” in the country’s future due to not having children. He stated, “We are effectively run in this country via the Democrats by a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives and the choices they’ve made.”
In a recent interview on NBC News’ Meet the Press, host Kristen Welker pressed Vance to reflect on these remarks. He stated, “I have a lot of regrets, Kristen, but making a joke three years ago is not at the top ten of the list.”
WATCH: Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) says he regrets that people took his 2021 childless cat lady comments “the wrong way.”@kwelkernbc: “Do you regret what you said?”@JDVance: “I have a lot of regrets, Kristen, but making a joke three years ago is not at the top ten of the list.” pic.twitter.com/c5gWaA6LTT
— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) August 25, 2024
When asked if his comments alienated women without children, Vance labeled it as a “sarcastic comment” that was misinterpreted by Democrats. Although he acknowledged some women’s feelings of offense, he remained firm, saying, “I regret that a lot of people took it the wrong way… but I’m going to say things from time to time that people disagree with.”
Vance further argued that his original intent was to highlight real issues, stating, “This country has become too anti-family. It’s too expensive to afford a house, it’s too expensive to afford groceries. Donald Trump, and I want to change that.”
In conclusion, while Vance did voice some regret over the misinterpretation of his comments, he emphasized the importance of being himself, stating, “I have a lot of regrets, but making a joke three years ago is not at the top 10 of the list.”
The Trump-Vance campaign has been contacted for additional comments via email.