Vice President JD Vance said Thursday that politicians and political commentators who have condemned prayer in the wake of a mass shooting in Minnesota should “get new politics.”
In an appearance on Fox News, Vance ripped into those who have mocked or dismissed calls for prayer to help deal with tragedy. The vice president said that people who have targeted prayer after a gunman killed two children at Annunciation Catholic School’s church on Wednesday morning have “something very wrong” with their souls.
“If you are a politician or you&#8217;re a media commentator and two beautiful babies just got murdered while praying, and your politics force you to condemn prayer in response to it, you ought to get new politics because something very wrong has gone on inside your soul,” said Vance, who is a Catholic.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/VP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VP</a>: &#8220;If you are a politician or you&#8217;re a media commentator and two beautiful babies just got murdered while praying, and your politics force you to condemn prayer in response to it, you ought to get new politics because something very wrong has gone on inside your soul.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/ukwAIWdBbs">pic.twitter.com/ukwAIWdBbs</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1961161979868962889?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
A number of left-wing politicians and commentators have downplayed prayer in the wake of the shooting. Former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, who served in the Biden administration, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/karoline-leavitt-destroys-jen-psaki-for-mocking-the-power-of-prayer">said</a> in a post on X: “Prayer is not freaking enough. Prayers does (sic) not end school shootings. prayers (sic) do not make parents feel safe sending their kids to school. Prayer does not bring these kids back. Enough with the thoughts and prayers.”
Minneapolis Democratic Mayor Jacob Frey on Wednesday <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/minneapolis-mayor-trashes-people-for-offering-thoughts-and-prayers-after-shooting">dismissed</a> “thoughts and prayers” during a news conference after the shooting.
“Don’t just say this is about thoughts and prayers right now, these kids were literally praying. It was the first week of school, they were in a church,” Frey said. “These are kids that should be learning with their friends. They should be playing on the playground. They should be able to go to school or church in peace without the fear or risk of violence.”
California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom echoed Frey’s sentiment in a post on X that targeted White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who defended prayer in reaction to Psaki’s comment.
“These children were literally praying as they got shot at,” Newsom wrote.
Annunciation Catholic Church <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/church-targeted-by-trans-identifying-shooter-asks-for-prayer-during-impossible-situation">invited</a> prayer in an open letter to the general public on Wednesday evening, asking for support as the community grapples with the deadly attack.
“Please lift up these families and these children in prayer and surround them and each other with your love during this difficult time,” the school’s principal, Matthew DeBoer, and the church’s pastor, Father Dennis Zehren, wrote.

JD Vance

Vance Tells Prayer-Bashing Leftists To ‘Get New Politics’

Vance Tells Prayer-Bashing Politicos To ‘Get New Politics’

Annunciation Catholic School

Gavin Newsom

Jen Psaki

Mass Shooting

Minnesota

Politics

Prayer

Vice President JD Vance treated &#8220;Meet the Press&#8221; anchor Kristen Welker to a whirlwind trip around the globe during an interview that went to air during Sunday morning&#8217;s broadcast — and he addressed everything from President Donald Trump&#8217;s domestic policy to the administration&#8217;s dealings with communist China and Russia.
For those who don&#8217;t spend their Sunday mornings glued to the television — and their Sunday afternoons attempting to dig through a week&#8217;s worth of network and cable news media spin — The Daily Wire has compiled a short summary of what you may have missed.
Vance sat down for a full interview with Welker, who questioned him about the recent negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
&#8220;The Russians have made significant concessions to President Trump for the first time in three and a half years of this conflict,&#8221; Vance said, adding, &#8220;We&#8217;re trying to negotiate as much as we can with both the Russians and Ukrainians to find a middle ground to stop the killing.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
&#8220;The Russians have made significant concessions to President Trump for the first time in three and a half years of this conflict,&#8221; says <a href="https://twitter.com/VP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VP</a>.
&#8220;We&#8217;re trying to negotiate as much as we can with both the Russians and Ukrainians to find a middle ground to stop the killing.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/b487LlfIyx">pic.twitter.com/b487LlfIyx</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1959608502009184631?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Vance gave some details on the concessions made by Russia, and went on to explain that Trump&#8217;s goal — rather than trying to deconstruct all the reasons the war started — was to &#8220;focus on the nit-picky details of now&#8221; and get to where they could stop the fighting.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/VP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VP</a>: &#8220;[<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>] is not trying to focus on every nit-picky detail of how this thing started&#8230; He&#8217;s trying to focus on the nit-picky details of now — of what do the parties disagree on, what do they agree on, and how do you build a foundation from one side of that ledger to the… <a href="https://t.co/9C2aXYtFHM">pic.twitter.com/9C2aXYtFHM</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1959609236175864214?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Welker immediately challenged him on the Trump administration&#8217;s position with regard to China. Noting that China was one of the world&#8217;s biggest consumers of Russian oil, she pressed Vance on why the United States was not putting China under heavier sanctions.
&#8220;China&#8217;s actually the largest buyer of Russian oil,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Why no sanctions on China?&#8221;
&#8220;Well, obviously, we have a 54% tariff on the PRC right now, so we&#8217;ve already applied pretty hefty sanctions on the Chinese,&#8221; Vance shot back. &#8220;And we&#8217;ve had a number of conversations at all levels over the government to try to encourage the Chinese to be better partners and bring this war to a close.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
NBC: &#8220;Why no sanctions on China?&#8221;
.<a href="https://twitter.com/VP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VP</a>: &#8220;Obviously, we have a 54% tariff on the PRC right now, so we&#8217;ve already applied pretty hefty sanctions on the Chinese&#8230;&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/IUeug9nkkU">pic.twitter.com/IUeug9nkkU</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1959611584226967880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Welker continued to press, asking, &#8220;Where exactly is the pressure on Russia to do anything if you&#8217;re not right now imposing new sanctions?&#8221;
&#8220;The President has applied more economic pressure to the Russians to stop this war than Biden did in three years,&#8221; Vance replied. &#8220;This is how negotiation works.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/VP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VP</a>: &#8220;The President has applied more economic pressure to the Russians to stop this war than Biden did in three years&#8230; This is how negotiation works.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/89lsaNlz8u">pic.twitter.com/89lsaNlz8u</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1959611642599104891?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;This is how wars ultimately get settled,&#8221; Vance continued. &#8220;They all end with some kind of negotiation &#8230; He&#8217;s not going to force these parties to walk through the door. All he can do is open the door and ask them to negotiate in good faith.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/VP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VP</a>: &#8220;This is how wars ultimately get settled&#8230; They all end with some kind of negotiation&#8230; He&#8217;s not going to force these parties to walk through the door. All he can do is open the door and ask them to negotiate in good faith.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/OcFx8ZCYGq">pic.twitter.com/OcFx8ZCYGq</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1959612590490804407?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Despite hearing it directly from President Donald Trump in recent weeks, Welker asked Vance to &#8220;guarantee&#8221; that there would not be American &#8220;boots on the ground&#8221; if it came to defending Ukraine in a more direct fashion.
&#8220;The President has been very clear. There are not going to be [American] boots on the ground in Ukraine,&#8221; Vance replied.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/VP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VP</a>: &#8220;The President has been very clear. There are not going to be [American] boots on the ground in Ukraine.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/21LqlibKcU">pic.twitter.com/21LqlibKcU</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1959612715816604149?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;We don&#8217;t control what Russia does. If we did, the war would&#8217;ve been over seven months ago,&#8221; Vance continued. &#8220;What we do believe, though, is that &#8230; the President of the United States has a lot of cards left to play to apply pressure.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/VP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VP</a>: &#8220;We don&#8217;t control what Russia does. If we did, the war would&#8217;ve been over seven months ago. What we do believe, though, is that&#8230; the President of the United States has a lot of cards left to play to apply pressure.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/qOvXQB9NEQ">pic.twitter.com/qOvXQB9NEQ</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1959613859490091462?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
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On the domestic front, Welker pressed Vance to defend Texas Republicans and their newly-drawn Congressional map — one that is likely to afford Republicans as many as five additional seats in the 2026 midterms. Vance pushed right back, arguing that Democrats had been gerrymandering their states to unfair advantage for decades and saying that Republicans only meant to tip the scales back into balance.
&#8220;All we&#8217;re doing, frankly, is trying to make the situation a little bit more fair,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Democrats have gerrymandered their states really aggressively. We think there are opportunities to push back against that, and that&#8217;s really all we&#8217;re doing.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
&#8220;All we&#8217;re doing, frankly, is trying to make the situation a little bit more fair,&#8221; says <a href="https://twitter.com/VP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VP</a> on redistricting.
&#8220;Democrats have gerrymandered their states really aggressively. We think there are opportunities to push back against that, and that&#8217;s really all we&#8217;re doing.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/q06A8CkniT">pic.twitter.com/q06A8CkniT</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1959614788557836519?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;We&#8217;re literally losing representatives for American citizens in order to give congressional representation to illegal aliens,&#8221; Vance added, explaining that illegal aliens were being counted in the census for the purposes of congressional apportionment, meaning that &#8220;they end up getting congressional representation that ought, by right, go to American citizens.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
&#8220;We&#8217;re literally losing representatives for American citizens in order to give congressional representation to illegal aliens,&#8221; says <a href="https://twitter.com/VP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VP</a>.
&#8220;Republicans are trying to balance out the scales a little bit for basic fairness and for the integrity of our democracy.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/uxxDXQJege">pic.twitter.com/uxxDXQJege</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1959618633765896314?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/VP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VP</a> on illegal aliens in the Census: &#8220;They do go in the congressional apportionment. That&#8217;s why California has so many more seats is because they count illegal aliens&#8230; They end up getting congressional representation that ought, by right, go to American citizens.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/Lfu3kYaM6N">pic.twitter.com/Lfu3kYaM6N</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1959619304350945548?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
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And when it came to the deployment of the National Guard and the crackdown on crime in the nation&#8217;s capital, Vance once again laid out the reasoning in straightforward fashion. &#8220;Allowing vagrants and armed robberies to take over your city — that&#8217;s a policy choice. What President Trump is showing that if you just empower local law enforcement to arrest and prosecute the bad guys, we can take back American streets,&#8221; he said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/VP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VP</a>: &#8220;Allowing vagrants and armed robberies to take over your city — that&#8217;s a policy choice. What President Trump is showing that if you just empower local law enforcement to arrest and prosecute the bad guys, we can take back American streets.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/upsNXlZDui">pic.twitter.com/upsNXlZDui</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1959621293847753130?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Watch the full interview below:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
WATCH IN FULL: <a href="https://twitter.com/VP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VP</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/JDVance?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JDVance</a>&#8216;s interview on <a href="https://twitter.com/MeetThePress?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MeetThePress</a> <a href="https://t.co/s7s0eCZXAG">pic.twitter.com/s7s0eCZXAG</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1959708596356239868?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy Hosts Bilateral Talks With US Vice President JD Vance At Chevening House

Spin Cycle: JD Vance Goes Around The World In 20 Minutes With ‘Meet the Press’

Spin Cycle: JD Vance Goes Around The World In 20 Minutes With 'Meet the Press'

Communist China

Kristen Welker

Media

Meet the Press

NBC News

Russia

Ukraine-Russia War

Vice President JD Vance delivered a primer to NBC News anchor Kristen Welker during Sunday morning&#8217;s broadcast of &#8220;Meet the Press,&#8221; explaining why so many Republican-controlled states were moving to draw new congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The move, he said, was a response to decades of Democratic gerrymandering.
Vance pointed to a few key states where because illegal aliens were counted for the purposes of apportionment, those illegal aliens were getting congressional representation at the expense of legal American citizens — and he argued that what Republicans were doing was simply making an effort to balance the scales.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
&#8220;All we&#8217;re doing, frankly, is trying to make the situation a little bit more fair,&#8221; says <a href="https://twitter.com/VP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VP</a> on redistricting.
&#8220;Democrats have gerrymandered their states really aggressively. We think there are opportunities to push back against that, and that&#8217;s really all we&#8217;re doing.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/q06A8CkniT">pic.twitter.com/q06A8CkniT</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1959614788557836519?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;All we&#8217;re doing, frankly, is trying to make the situation a little bit more fair,&#8221; Vance said of the efforts that began with the newly-passed map in Texas.
&#8220;Democrats have gerrymandered their states really aggressively. We think there are opportunities to push back against that, and that&#8217;s really all we&#8217;re doing,&#8221; he added, noting that Democrats in states like Massachusetts, Illinois, and California had been tipping the congressional maps over the last two decades.
Vance went on to point out that part of that imbalance was the result of illegal aliens being counted in the official census — which is used to apportion representation.
&#8220;We&#8217;re literally losing representatives for American citizens in order to give congressional representation to illegal aliens,&#8221; he said, adding, &#8220;Republicans are trying to balance out the scales a little bit for basic fairness and for the integrity of our democracy.&#8221;
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
&#8220;We&#8217;re literally losing representatives for American citizens in order to give congressional representation to illegal aliens,&#8221; says <a href="https://twitter.com/VP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VP</a>.
&#8220;Republicans are trying to balance out the scales a little bit for basic fairness and for the integrity of our democracy.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/uxxDXQJege">pic.twitter.com/uxxDXQJege</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1959618633765896314?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Welker pushed back then, saying that &#8220;of course&#8221; illegal aliens were not allowed to vote.
&#8220;They&#8217;re not eligible to vote,&#8221; Vance agreed. &#8220;But they do go in the congressional apportionment. That&#8217;s why California has so many more seats is because they count illegal aliens &#8230; They end up getting congressional representation that ought, by right, go to American citizens.&#8221;
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/VP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VP</a> on illegal aliens in the Census: &#8220;They do go in the congressional apportionment. That&#8217;s why California has so many more seats is because they count illegal aliens&#8230; They end up getting congressional representation that ought, by right, go to American citizens.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/Lfu3kYaM6N">pic.twitter.com/Lfu3kYaM6N</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1959619304350945548?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
President Donald Trump has repeatedly said that he would put an end to illegal aliens being counted in the census.

Vice President Vance Speaks At U.S. Naval Academy Graduation Ceremony

‘We’re Literally Losing Representatives’: Vance Explains GOP Redistricting Efforts To NBC Host

'We're Literally Losing Representatives': Vance Explains GOP Redistricting Efforts To NBC Host

Illegal Immigration

ATLANTA — When Second Lady Usha Vance asked Georgia school children to share with her how often they get distracted by cell phones or tablets, almost every child in the school gym eagerly raised their hand in the air.
It&#8217;s hard for everyone, she told them. And it’s one of the reasons she wants them to be reading as much as they can.
&#8220;You see in your own life, I see it in mine, where my attention is fragmented, I get distracted and pulled away all the time when I have a phone around me,&#8221; she shared in a brief interview with The Daily Wire at Cherokee Classical Charter School in Atlanta, Georgia. 
&#8220;I know from experience and I know from hearing from other people that this is a real issue,&#8221; Vance explained. She had just finished listening in on several classes at the school and handing out bookmarks to the eager children, who carefully recited their lessons, led by their teachers, in the presence of the smiling second lady. 
Vance was in Atlanta to speak with students at the charter school about her &#8220;Summer Reading Challenge,&#8221; which encourages kids to read 12 books between June and September, and to fill out a form and send in their accomplishment to the Second Lady&#8217;s office for a personalized certificate and small prize. Some lucky winners will be selected to travel to Washington, D.C.
<div id="attachment_964117" style="width: 1210px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-964117" class="wp-image-964117 size-full" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/Usha-Vance-final.jpg" alt="" width="1200" height="1600" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/Usha-Vance-final.jpg 1200w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/Usha-Vance-final-225x300.jpg 225w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/Usha-Vance-final-432x576.jpg 432w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/Usha-Vance-final-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/Usha-Vance-final-1152x1536.jpg 1152w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" />Second Lady Usha Vance tours the school rooms of Cherokee Classical Academy in Georgia.</div>
On Thursday, Vance explained her challenge to around 200 school children and read them &#8220;The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere,&#8221; the classic poetic tale of the Revolutionary War hero and his historic ride through Massachusetts. She also took a few questions from the students, who asked her what it is like to be the Second Lady and what her favorite books are. Vance shared that she loved Laura Ingalls Wilder&#8217;s &#8220;Little House&#8221; series, detailing the life of Laura Ingalls and her family as they travel across the United States.
Across town, her husband was speaking at a Republican National Committee event before heading to an industrial refrigeration manufacturing facility in Peachtree City, Georgia, where he spoke about the importance of the &#8220;working families tax cuts&#8221; in the &#8220;One Big Beautiful Bill.&#8221; JD Vance and Usha Vance had flown down to Georgia together on Thursday morning, kissed one another goodbye before the motorcade, and then sped off to their respective events.
Thursday was one of six &#8220;Summer Reading Challenge&#8221; events that Usha Vance has spoken at, and perhaps her last one of the summer, since the 2025-2026 school year is beginning for many students. She was poised and polite, gracious to the children and the school officials who welcomed her. She chuckled at the eager antics of the students in their classrooms, as they strove to best one another in answering questions while she watched.
Speaking with The Daily Wire after she toured the school itself and visited several classrooms, Usha Vance shared how she seeks to block technological distractions for children.
&#8220;For my children, and I think for all children, my goal is that we do things that try to counteract that,&#8221; Vance explained. &#8220;Whether that&#8217;s spending time outside, whether that is engaging in the kinds of activities where you just can&#8217;t be distracted, you really have to commit to build strength or skill or whatever it might be.&#8221;
&#8220;Or reading,” she added. “Reading, I think, is maybe the most important of all these because when you can read and focus on something for hundreds of pages, then you can really do anything at that point.&#8221;
Asked what her own three children are reading this summer, the second lady responded with a big smile, describing her eight-year-old as a voracious reader.
<div id="attachment_964119" style="width: 1210px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-964119" class="wp-image-964119 size-full" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/Usha-2-final.jpg" alt="" width="1200" height="900" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/Usha-2-final.jpg 1200w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/Usha-2-final-300x225.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/Usha-2-final-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" />Second Lady Usha Vance reads to students at Cherokee Classical Academy in Georgia.</div>
&#8220;So Mira, our youngest, is not a reader yet,&#8221; she explained. &#8220;Our oldest child is a total bookworm. He&#8217;s eight, so he&#8217;s read dozens of books this summer. Right now, I think he has been reading, actually, copies of the Mahabharata, which is an Indian epic, and he also just finished re-reading all the Percy Jackson books.&#8221;
&#8220;I think he read The Hobbit recently,&#8221; she noted, referring to J.R.R. Tolkien&#8217;s precursor to The Lord of the Rings trilogy. &#8220;Those kinds of things are really exciting.&#8221;
&#8220;And our middle guy has been immersed in dinosaur encyclopedias,&#8221; Vance concluded with a laugh. &#8220;That&#8217;s his thing right now.&#8221; 
The young Vance son’s interest in The Hobbit likely stems from his father’s partiality for The Lord of the Rings: Vice President Vance himself<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2024/07/19/lord-of-the-rings-jd-vance-00169372"> is known to be a fan</a> of the &#8220;The Lord of the Rings&#8221; series and has even said that it greatly influenced his view of the world.
“I’m a big Lord of the Rings guy,&#8221; Vance said in a 2021 interview, &#8220;and I think, not realizing it at the time, but a lot of my conservative worldview was influenced by Tolkien growing up,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Big fan of C.S. Lewis — really sort of like that era of English writers. I think they were really interesting. They were grappling, in part because of World War II, with just very big problems.”
Vance&#8217;s wife speaks much less politically (she gently said she &#8220;high hopes&#8221; that people will come back to Washington, when asked by The Daily Wire whether she now feels safer in D.C. due to the White House&#8217;s enforcement efforts). But, like her husband, she also recognizes the massive impact that literature can have on an individual. In a statement on Thursday, she encouraged American children that reading will build strong foundations &#8220;that will serve them for a lifetime.&#8221;
&#8220;We want every child to know that reading opens doors,&#8221; said Usha Vance, &#8220;not only to education, but to imagination, opportunity, and achievement.&#8221;

Donald Trump, Inauguration, 60th inaugural ceremonies

EXCLUSIVE: In A World Of Distraction, Second Lady Usha Vance Wants Children To Slow Down

Atlanta

Usha Vance

Tech titan Elon Musk has paused efforts to make a new political party while he mulls supporting Vice President JD Vance for a 2028 White House run.
Musk proposed creating a new political party in June as he engaged in a high-profile feud with President Donald Trump over the One Big, Beautiful Bill — which was at that time moving through Congress. Musk is now rethinking his plans for the “America Party” over hesitancy to cause rifts with top Republicans, especially Vance, according to <a href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/elon-musk-third-political-party-69bf9bd8">The Wall Street Journal</a>.
Musk and close associates have told others that the tech tycoon, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, is considering financially backing Vance should he choose to run for president in 2028. Musk, recognized as the wealthiest man in the world, spent close to $300 million in the 2024 election cycle supporting Trump and other Republicans.
Earlier this month, Trump said that Vance is the “most likely” contender at this stage to be the 2028 GOP nominee.
“Well, I think most likely, in all fairness,” <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-reveals-who-will-most-likely-be-the-2028-republican-nominee">said</a> Trump in response to a question about Vance’s &#8220;heir-apparent&#8221; status. “He’s the vice president. I think Marco is also somebody that maybe would get together with JD in some form.”
“I also think we have incredible people, some of the people on the stage right here, so it’s too early obviously to talk about it,” Trump added. “But certainly, [Vance] is doing a great job, and he would be probably favored at this point.”
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Musk and Trump have appeared to mend somewhat the rift that drove them apart during the summer, though the two have had little public interaction since. Vance has been conciliatory toward the tech mogul, <a href="https://x.com/MAGAVoice/status/1954703389419532435">telling</a> The Gateway Pundit in an interview earlier this month that he wants Musk to “come back into the fold.”
“He&#8217;s obviously got a complicated relationship right now with the Trump White House. My argument to Elon is, like, you&#8217;re not gonna be on the left, right? Even if you wanted to be – and he doesn&#8217;t – they&#8217;re not gonna have you back. That ship has sailed,” said Vance. “I really think it&#8217;s a mistake for him to try to break from the president. So, my hope is that by the time of the midterms, he&#8217;s kind of come back into the fold.”
“Obviously, the drama around him and the White House over the last couple of months, again, my hope is that just kind of cools down a little bit,” the vice president continued. &#8220;He did help us a lot in the election. And the president even says, with all his frustration, Elon was a very, very critical part of the team last election, and so my hope is by the midterms things are kind of back to normal.”

Johnson, Trump, Musk, Vance

Musk Hits Pause On New Party Launch While He Weighs Backing Vance In 2028

Musk Holds Off Launching New Party While He Weighs Backing Vance 2028 Bid

Donald Trump

Elon Musk

This week Scotland <a href="https://adfinternational.org/news/state-department-scotland-rose-docherty#:~:text=GLASGOW%20(18%20August%202025)%20%E2%80%93,Glasgow's%20Queen%20Elizabeth%20II%20Hospital." target="_blank" rel="noopener">dropped</a> a criminal lawsuit against a pro-life grandmother seeking peaceful conversation outside of a hospital.
Glasgow native Rose Docherty, 75, was arrested and issued a warning in February 2025 for standing within 200 metres of the city’s Queen Elizabeth II Hospital with a sign that read “Coercion is a crime, here to talk, only if you want.”
Docherty was arrested under Scotland’s new <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2024/10/section/4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">buffer zone law</a>, which came into effect last September. The Abortion Services Bill makes it illegal to stand within 200 meters (656 feet) of a hospital for the purpose of “influencing, preventing access, or causing harassment” to women seeking abortions. Offenders can receive fines of up to £10,000.
A State Department spokesman told the Telegraph that it applauds Scotland’s decision to drop the case.
“The United States stands with all those fighting for free speech and religious liberty.”
Docherty <a href="https://adfinternational.org/en-gb/news/prayer-by-window-in-scotland-buffer-zone-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">says</a> she wasn’t violating the buffer zone.
“Everyone has the right to a consensual conversation. I simply made myself available for a chat, should anybody like to approach me and speak about any matter on their mind. I didn’t breach the buffer zone – I didn’t harass, intimidate, or even seek to influence anyone. I simply stood there, available to speak with love and compassion.”
After her arrest, Docherty was issued a formal warning that required her to admit wrongdoing and refrain from similar actions in the future. She refused to sign it.
This week, a prosecutor for Glasgow notified Ms. Docherty by letter that &#8220;on the basis of the current information available to me, I have decided to take no further action… at this time.&#8221;
The warning was withdrawn, and authorities agreed to return Docherty’s sign.
The letter noted there was an &#8220;obligation on the prosecutor to keep cases under review,” meaning that charges could technically be reintroduced at a later date.
Docherty and her legal counsel, ADF International, are celebrating the development as a win for free speech: “This is a victory not just for me, but for everyone in Scotland who believes we should be free to hold a peaceful conversation,” Docherty said.
“I stood with love and compassion, ready to listen to anyone who wanted to talk. Criminalising kindness has no place in a free society.”
ADF International Legal Counsel Lorcán Price said that &#8220;Rose’s case is a stark example of how ‘buffer zone’ laws can be weaponised to silence peaceful expression.”
Scotland’s buffer zone law sparked controversy earlier this year when Vice President JD Vance <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c87d9j17pjqo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">accused</a> the Scottish government of policing citizens’ thoughts in his address at the Munich Security Conference in February.
&#8220;This last October, just a few months ago, the Scottish government began distributing letters to citizens whose houses lay within so-called safe access zones, warning them that even private prayer within their own homes may amount to breaking the law.&#8221;
The government denied the accusation, saying the legislation did not target private prayer.
The <a href="https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/foi-eir-release/2025/03-a/foi-202500452910/documents/foi-202500452910---information-released---annex/foi-202500452910---information-released---annex/govscot%3Adocument/FOI%2B202500452910%2B-%2BInformation%2Breleased%2B-%2BAnnex.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">letters</a> sent to residents did not mention prayer specifically, but warned them against performing offenses “in a private place…if they can be seen or heard within the Zone.”
These could include putting up pro-life signs in your windows or holding a vigil or protest in your front yard, according to the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c87d9j17pjqo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BBC</a>.

President Trump Holds National Day of Prayer Event In Rose Garden

State Department Applauds Scotland’s Decision to Drop Case Against Pro-Life Grandmother

Censorship

Pro-Life Movement

Scotland

Reporters and protesters flanked Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller in Union Station on Thursday, peppering them with questions meant to criticize President Donald Trump&#8217;s efforts to crack down on crime in Washington, D.C. — and Vance quickly made it clear that he was not playing.
The three were touring Union Station to observe the progress that has been made since the Trump administration began its efforts.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🚨Happening Now: Vice President JD Vance, Secretary Hegseth, and Stephen Miller arrive at Union Station to view the progress of the clean up in Washington DC <a href="https://t.co/ol9o61Z8bQ">pic.twitter.com/ol9o61Z8bQ</a>
— William Martin (@VPCommsDir) <a href="https://twitter.com/VPCommsDir/status/1958208241969541495?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Vance, according to the pool report, stopped to thank the National Guardsmen who were present, saying, &#8220;You guys bust your ass all day and we give you hamburgers — not a fair trade but we’re grateful for everything you do.&#8221;
Speaking to the gathered reporters, Vance touted the success of their efforts thus far. &#8220;In the last nine days, we have seen a 35% crime decrease,&#8221; he said.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
. <a href="https://twitter.com/VP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VP</a> “If you look at what has happened in Washington, D.C.
In the last nine days, WE HAVE SEEN A THIRTY-FIVE PERCENT CRIME DECREASE.” <a href="https://t.co/68TN6hsEfh">pic.twitter.com/68TN6hsEfh</a>
— DOD Rapid Response (@DODResponse) <a href="https://twitter.com/DODResponse/status/1958215203335664100?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Once the three men opened the floor for questions, a reporter asked whether they&#8217;d be providing &#8220;evidence.&#8221;
&#8220;Are you going to be releasing evidence of this?&#8221; she asked.
Hegseth and Vance both appeared amused by the question.
&#8220;Of what?&#8221; Vance asked. &#8220;That D.C. has a terrible crime problem? You just gotta look around. Obviously, D.C. has a terrible crime problem. The Department of Justice statistics back it up. The FBI statistics back it up. Just talk to a resident of this city, this beautiful, great American city.&#8221;
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&#8220;Don&#8217;t they deserve — we talk about human rights, we hear these people outside screaming, &#8216;Free D.C.!&#8217; Let&#8217;s free D.C. from lawlessness. Let&#8217;s free Washington, D.C., from one of the highest murder rates in the entire world. Let&#8217;s free Washington, D.C., so that young families can walk around and feel safe and secure. That&#8217;s what we&#8217;re trying to free D.C. from.&#8221;
Referencing the protesters outside, he added, &#8220;As Stephen said, it&#8217;s kind of bizarre that we have a bunch of old, primarily white people who are out there protesting the policies that keep people safe when they’ve never felt danger in their entire lives.&#8221;

VP Vance And Defense Secretary Hegseth Visit Federal Law Enforcement Officers Patrolling At D.C.’s Union Station

JD Vance Shuts Down Reporter Who Demands ‘Evidence’ Of D.C.’s Crime Problem

D.C. Reporter Tries To Corner VP At Union Station, But Vance Is Not Playing

Crime

Washington D.C.

Director Ron Howard is reflecting on “Hillbilly Elegy,” the film he made about the early life of Vice President JD Vance, saying he’s surprised by the VP’s “divisive” rhetoric.
The filmmaker spoke with <a href="https://www.vulture.com/article/ron-howard-in-conversation.html">Vulture</a> about his current thoughts on the 2020 film starring Glenn Close and Amy Adams as Vance’s Mamaw and mother, respectively. Actor Gabriel Basso played the adult version of the VP.
The movie was based on Vance’s best-selling 2016 memoir by the same name.
“It remains a bit of a surprise to me,” Howard told Vulture of Vance’s trajectory to the White House. “I would not have seen it coming, and I wouldn’t have expected his rhetoric to be as divisive as it sometimes is. By the way, I’m not following him or listening to every word.”
“He was trying to run an investment fund. So the run for Senate and the strategy he’s chosen to follow are not what I would’ve expected,” he added.
“I don’t think about it,” Howard told Vulture of the film’s legacy. “I know it’s a mixed bag and probably quite culturally divided. I also know that reviews were bad and the audience-reaction rating was pretty good.”
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When asked if he’s had any contact with Vance since filming and promoting the movie was done, the Oscar-winning director admitted he texted Vance after he won alongside Trump in 2024.
“I did one text, after the election, which was just sort of ‘Godspeed. Try to serve us well,&#8217;” Howard told the outlet.
Earlier this year, Basso said he doesn’t regret the part and thinks it’s “crazy” he played someone who eventually became vice president.
&#8220;It&#8217;s kind of weird to be included in that timeline,&#8221; the actor <a href="https://ew.com/gabriel-basso-says-it-was-weird-to-play-cool-dude-jd-vance-8778261">said</a> of the part.
&#8220;When he&#8217;s thinking about his life — they made a movie of his book, and my name will always be in the description,&#8221; Basso said. &#8220;We talked a little bit. He&#8217;s a cool dude. We&#8217;re both from the Midwest. We just talked about life — about growing up in the woods.&#8221;
Meanwhile Close insists that Vance is totally different now than he was on set. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know what happened,&#8221; the actress told the audience of “The View” in January. “Power is probably the biggest aphrodisiac for a human being.&#8221;
“Hillbilly Elegy” is about Yale Law student JD Vance (Basso) reflecting on his turbulent upbringing in a working-class Appalachian family and his struggle to break free from cycles of poverty and alcoholism. Told through flashbacks, it follows Vance’s relationship with his strong-willed grandmother (Close) and his troubled mother (Adams). Major themes include redemption, forgiveness, resilience, and strong family ties.

Ron Howard

Ron Howard Comments On Legacy Of Movie About JD Vance’s Life

Ron Howard Comments On Legacy Of Movie About JD Vance's Life

Entertainment

Hollywood

Movies

U.S.

Vice President

Vice President JD Vance told American service members stationed at Royal Air Force Base Fairford on Tuesday that President Donald Trump is making it his mission to restore peace in Europe.
“The president of the United States came in six months ago, and I just talked to him right before I came on stage, and he said very simply that we are going to make it our mission as an administration to bring peace to Europe once again.”
Vance told the troops that they “make it possible” for Trump to have success negotiating from a position of strength.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
NEW: Vice President Vance told U.S. troops at Royal Air Force Base Fairford in England that the strength of the American military is why President Trump is able to negotiate successfully. <a href="https://t.co/4lCogXra2d">pic.twitter.com/4lCogXra2d</a>
— Kassy Akiva (@KassyAkiva) <a href="https://twitter.com/KassyAkiva/status/1955685397213946352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 13, 2025</a></blockquote>
“But as you all know, it isn’t possible to bring peace anywhere unless the bad guys are also worried that we’ve got a hell of a fine Air Force and a hell of a fine military to back up the peace, to begin with.”
Vance also mentioned the various conflicts around the world the Trump administration has been able to cool down or resolve since January including between Rwanda and the Congo, Serbia and Kosovo, and Cambodia and Thailand. He added that Trump’s next task is to make moves to end the war in Ukraine, mentioning the president&#8217;s upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday.
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“In just a couple of days, the president is headed to Anchorage, Alaska, to try to achieve an end to this terrible war in Russia and Ukraine,” Vance said. “You guys make that possible.”
Trump will meet with Putin at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in the northern edge of Anchorage, Alaska. Trump has said that he plans for the meeting to be a “feel-out” session to see if brokering a ceasefire is possible.
“You guys are the reason why we have leverage in these conversations with world leaders because they know that if we cut a deal, it is backed up by the finest fighting force anywhere in the world and that’s what makes your job so important,” Vance said.
Vance added that he’s been meeting with European leaders — including an hour before the speech — to discuss ending the war in Ukraine.
In an interview Tuesday morning, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Trump wants to see Putin face-to-face to make an assessment.
“The president feels like, ‘look, I’ve got to look at this guy across the table. I need to see him face-to-face. I need to hear him one-on-one. I need to make an assessment by looking at him,’” Rubio said.
Trump has faced criticism for meeting with Putin before the Russian leader made any concessions to end the war, but Rubio defended the move, pointing to Trump’s history as a dealmaker.
“And people have to understand – for President Trump, a meeting is not a concession,” he said. “A meeting is what you do to kind of figure out and make your decision. I want to have all the facts. I want to look this guy in the eye. And that’s what the president wants to do. So honestly, I think we’re going to know very early in that meeting whether this thing has any chance of success or not.”

US Vice President JD Vance Visits US Troops At RAF Fairford

Vance To Troops In UK: Make It Our Mission To Bring Peace To Europe

Global Politics

Trump Administration

Ukraine

World

Former Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) is ready to run for office again after losing his Senate seat to Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH) in the 2024 election amid reported controversies.
Brown will challenge Sen. Jon Husted (R-OH) in the 2026 election, cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer first <a href="https://www.cleveland.com/news/2025/08/sherrod-brown-to-run-for-us-senate-in-2026-challenging-jon-husted.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> on Tuesday, citing Ohio labor leaders. As of press time, Brown had not formally announced his campaign, but other news outlets have confirmed his plans.
In a story published last month, Brown told <a href="https://www.semafor.com/article/07/03/2025/former-ohio-sen-sherrod-brown-weighs-next-political-move" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Semafor</a> that &#8220;everything&#8217;s on the table&#8221; while &#8220;talking to family and friends&#8221; and deciding whether he “want[s] to get back in and do this.&#8221; He also said, &#8220;I’m concerned about the direction of my state; I’m concerned about the direction of my country. So I don’t know.&#8221;
Brown, a former Ohio secretary of state and congressman, first <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/politics-july-dec06-oh_sen_11-07" target="_blank" rel="noopener">won election</a> to the Senate in 2006 against incumbent Mike DeWine, who went on to become governor. During his three terms in the Senate, Brown served as chairman of the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
The Daily Wire covered Brown a number of times while he was in the Senate, including reports on <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ohio-democrat-senator-took-thousands-of-dollars-in-donations-from-pharma-companies-at-center-of-opioid-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">donations</a> from drug companies at the center of the opioid crisis and how he <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/east-palestine-is-still-suffering-but-ohios-democrat-senator-took-time-for-a-hollywood-fundraiser" target="_blank" rel="noopener">attended</a> a ritzy Hollywood fundraiser while constituents worried about the water quality at their home after the 2023 train derailment in East Palestine.
In the 2024 election, Brown ran for a fourth term against Moreno, a businessman who was endorsed by now-President Donald Trump. Estimates show roughly <a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2024-senate-ohio-brown-moreno-74c4b91e5866215d4201377fefcadad0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$500 million</a> was spent on that Senate contest, which POLITICO <a href="https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/11/05/2024-election-results-live-coverage-updates-analysis/bernie-moreno-wins-ohio-senate-00185143" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dubbed</a> the most expensive non-presidential election in U.S. history.
Moreno <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/11/05/us/elections/results-ohio-us-senate.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">defeated</a> Brown 50.1%-46.5%. Trump&#8217;s margin of victory over then-Vice President Kamala Harris in Ohio was much larger, with the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/11/05/us/elections/results-ohio.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">final </a>results coming in at 55.2%-43.9%.
Brown will now face off against Husted, who was selected by Governor DeWine to temporarily replace JD Vance after he <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/vice-president-elect-jd-vance-submits-resignation-from-senate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">resigned</a> from his seat in the Senate in order to become vice president. The winner will serve out the remainder of the term that ends in 2029.
Axios <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/07/28/schumer-sherrod-brown-ohio-senate-meeting-2026" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) had been urging Brown to get back in the ring, a push that comes as Democrats hope to retake control of the upper chamber. But Husted&#8217;s team shrugged off the pending challenge.
&#8220;Should Brown enter the race as Schumer&#8217;s handpicked candidate he will be starting in the biggest hole of his political career,&#8221; Husted campaign spokesman Tyson Shepard <a href="https://x.com/jpelzer/status/1955287609938190756" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a statement posted to X by Jeremy Pelzer, the reporter who broke the story.
&#8220;He has never faced a candidate like Jon Husted,&#8221; Pelzer continued. &#8220;Brown&#8217;s slogans will ring hollow as his coalition walks away, tired of the radical policies he&#8217;s forced to support to appease his coastal bosses in California and New York.&#8221;

Sherrod Brown

Ohio Dem Sherrod Brown Plots Senate Comeback

Bernie Moreno

Congress

Election

Ohio

U.S. Senate

Former Vice President Kamala Harris “rebuffed” a request from the Vance family to allow their children a tour of the vice president’s residence ahead of the inauguration, according to Vice President JD Vance.
Vance revealed the apparent snub during an appearance on the inaugural episode of the Katie Miller Podcast that aired on Monday. Harris, branded as &#8220;Momala&#8221; during the presidential campaign, reportedly denied the Vance children an early chance to see the house they would live in for the next four years.
“I think that, normally, it&#8217;s customary for the outgoing vice president to show the incoming vice president&#8217;s family the house,” Vance said. “We have three little kids, so I guess at the time our kids were, like, 7, 5, and, you know, 2 – I guess Mirabel turned 3 right before the inauguration.”
“Usha really wanted to show [the children where they would be living], so what we actually proposed is, recognizing the weirdness of the politics, can Usha take the kids over and just show them where they&#8217;re going to be living for the next 4 years, and they were rebuffed,” Vance said.
Instead, Vance and his wife introduced their children to the vice presidential residence through photos.
“A friend of ours in Cincinnati had a book about the vice president&#8217;s residence, and so we would show the kids what it would look like, but that&#8217;s as close as they ever got to it” before the inauguration, Vance said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/VP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VP</a> says after the election, since it&#8217;s usually &#8220;customary for the outgoing VP to show the incoming VP&#8217;s family the house,&#8221; he proposed bringing their kids over so they could see their home for the next four years — but Kamala &#8220;rebuffed&#8221; that request. <a href="https://t.co/YC58At8Iqf">pic.twitter.com/YC58At8Iqf</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1955041787292094548?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 11, 2025</a></blockquote>
Harris snubbed the vice president, as well. Traditionally, the sitting vice president has invited the incoming vice president to the residence ahead of inauguration, though Harris skipped the custom with Vance.
Harris has often brought up her role as “Momala” to her stepchildren, Cole and Ella, gained through her marriage to her husband Doug Emhoff. The nickname was agreed upon one night by Harris and Ella a couple years after Harris and Emhoff were married.
Harris wrote about the experience in a Mother’s Day <a href="https://www.elle.com/culture/career-politics/a27422434/kamala-harris-stepmom-mothers-day/">piece</a> in Elle in 2019. The nickname has been <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/17/us/politics/kamala-harris-stepmom-cole-ella-emhoff.html">referenced</a> repeatedly in news articles and profiles to tout Harris’ family’s support for her career in politics.

Kamala Harris

Kamala Wouldn’t Let Vance Kids Tour The Veep’s House Before Inauguration, VP Says

Kamala Wouldn't Let Vance Kids Tour The Veep's House Before Inauguration, VP Says

Vice President JD Vance made “significant progress” in meetings with European officials ahead of President Donald Trump’s upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
According to a source familiar with the matter, at the request of the United States, Vance met with United Kingdom Foreign Secretary David Lammy and other officials to discuss the war in Ukraine ahead of Trump’s Friday meeting in Alaska.
“Saturday’s hours-long meetings produced significant progress toward President Trump’s goal of bringing an end to the war in Ukraine, ahead of President Trump and President Putin’s upcoming meeting in Alaska,” a United States official told The Daily Wire.
On Friday, Vance met with Lammy at Chevening House in Kent, England, and on Saturday met with Lammy and others to discuss the war in Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, and economic and technology goals.
The meetings come as Trump makes another effort to bring the over 3-year-long war in Ukraine to an end.
Last week, Trump said that there will “be some swapping of territories, to the betterment” of both Russia and Ukraine. Russia currently occupies about a fifth of Ukrainian territory.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for more sanctions and pressure to be exerted on Russia <a href="https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1954609405863071994" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in a video posted</a> to X on Sunday.
“Everyone sees that there has been no real step from Russia toward peace, no action on the ground or in the air that could save lives,” he said. “That is why sanctions are needed, pressure is needed. Strength is needed — of the United States, of Europe, of all nations in the world that want peace and stability in international relations. If Russia does not want to stop the war, then its economy must be stopped.”
Zelenskyy has pushed to join the meeting, though he has not been formally invited.
Vance said on Fox News’s “Sunday Morning Futures” that the United States is working on setting up a meeting that includes Zelenskyy, but does not believe it should happen until after Trump meets with Putin.
“One of the most important logjams is that Vladimir Putin said that he would never sit down with Zelenskyy, the head of Ukraine, and the president has now got that to change,” Vance said.
Zelenskyy has not met with Putin since the war began.
On Saturday, the Russian government issued a <a href="http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/77745" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> praising the location of the meeting.
“Russia and the United States are close neighbours, they share borders. So it does make sense if our delegation simply crosses the Bering Strait and if such an important and expected meeting between the two leaders takes place specifically in Alaska,” the statement reads. “However, the presidents will undoubtedly focus on discussing ways to reach a sustainable settlement to the Ukraine crisis.”
The statement added that the next meeting should take place in Russia.
“An invitation to that effect has already been made to the President of the United States,” the statement adds.

Vice President JD Vance

Vance Makes ‘Significant Progress’ In Europe Ahead Of Trump’s Meeting With Putin In Alaska

Putin

Volodymyr Zelensky

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