What JD Vance's 'miserable cat lady' comments mean for Donald Trump's election campaign
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JD Vance once described Democrat politicians as 'miserable' cat ladies, but could his comments harm Donald Trump's election hopes?
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In brief...
- JD Vance's controversial comments about childless Democrats have sparked backlash, with accusations of seeking to control women's bodily autonomy.
- Donald Trump has defended Vance, though concerns have arisen about potential issues within his campaign.
- The debate highlights broader issues of reproductive rights and societal expectations.
When it comes to US politics, we tend to expect strong rhetoric when Republicans are talking about Democrats, and vice versa.
But even for America, JD Vance's comments about Democrats such as Kamala Harris and Pete Buttigieg being "childless cat ladies who are miserable" line raised eyebrows, when statements he made about his left-wing rivals in 2021 resurfaced online, shortly after becoming Donald Trump's Vice President pick for the 2024 election.
Vance has since said the comment was "sarcasm", but insisted the "substance" of the statement is true.
He has also said that people without children in America should not have "nearly the same voice" voice when it comes to voting, and called for parents to control the votes of their children
His 'cat ladies' comment was criticised by Buttigieg and actress Jennifer Aniston, among others, who accused him of demonising and stereotyping people who do not have children.
Donald Trump has defended his running-mate, saying he doesn't believe Vance meant there was "anything wrong" with people who don't have children, suggesting all is well inside the Republican camp. But could his comments, and the reaction to it since, cause problems as the election campaign ramps up ahead of November?
Jon Sopel suggests they may result in a "slow poisoning of the well" within Team Trump.
"I would say that actually, the embrace of JD Vance, by Donald Trump, has got a little more tenuous, since those comments came to light.
"They've caused so many problems and have spawned dozens of memes and has created a sort of pop-culture backlash against him."
Social media has been flooded with people, largely women without children – some who own cats, responding to Vance's comments.
Emily Maitlis believes Vance's comments reflect more than simply childless Americans, and reflect the right-wing's attempt to control women's bodily autonomy.
"It's this whole question of women's reproductive rights, and whether they belong to the government," she says.
"The overturning of Roe v. Wade basically told women in America that they do not have choice anymore, that their choice does not come first.
"I think Vance is reaffirming that women should be having children for the sake of the nation."
Emily says that his comments play directly into the 'Great Replacement Theory', which suggests immigrants enter countries and take over culture and society.
"The Great Replacement Theory talks about the importance of having American children, and I think he adheres to that," she adds.
"You have American children so that immigrants can't take over your country."
But it's happened in the UK too – effectively ending former Tory MP Andrea Leadsom's ambition to become leader of the party in 2016 when she made comments about Theresa May's suitability for the role, as she doesn't have children.
Leadsom said that being a mother meant she had "a very real stake" in the future of the country, suggesting Theresa May did not. She later apologised and dropped out of the race.
"When Andrea Leadsom made those comments, it was so counter to how most people felt about Theresa May," Emily continues.
"It was a really below-the-belt sort of attack.
"I don't think we ever want to be a nation that penalises, or even judges, women or men who do or don't have children.
"But I think America is different, because it has been on a very different trajectory for the last couple of years."
The debate over women's bodies, and their reproductive rights, has been headline news since June 2022, when Roe vs Wade, the constitutional right to abortion in the US, was overturned after 49 years.
And while we have seen similar discussions seep into UK politics, Jon says he's relieved things have not escalated to the same level as they have on the other side of the Atlantic.
"Some of the debate that has taken place in America seems so detached from ordinary people's reality, and it is mainly men who are pushing an agenda that controls women," he says.
"I just feel thank God that in broadly speaking in Western Europe, and certainly the UK, that is not a debate we are having here."
For now, Trump's campaign alongside Vance seems secure, and despite some rumours he may look to replace his VP, political commentators have said there is little to no chance of this happening, as he has the support of the Republican candidate's right-wing followers.
But, as the world has seen time and time again when it comes to Trump, there are no guarantees and it's never an easy ride.
Listen to the discussion in full on The News Agents.
