Ella Emhoff, the stepdaughter of Vice President Kamala Harris, has responded to controversial remarks made by Ohio GOP Senator JD Vance. Vance's comments, made during a 2021 interview with Tucker Carlson on Fox News, resurfaced recently and criticized Harris and other prominent Democrats as "childless cat ladies" who, in his view, aim to impose their views on the country.
Vance's remarks, which also included criticism of figures like Pete Buttigieg and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, suggested that childless people were somehow less equipped to understand or lead the country.
This characterization sparked backlash, with many taking issue with Vance’s derogatory language.
In a statement to NBC News, Kerstin Emhoff, Ella's mother and Doug Emhoff’s ex-wife, condemned Vance’s comments as “baseless.” She praised Harris, who has been a co-parent to Ella and her brother Cole for over a decade, describing her as "loving, nurturing, fiercely protective, and always present." Emhoff expressed her gratitude for Harris being part of their blended family and emphasized the supportive role Harris has played in their lives.
Ella Emhoff, 25, also took to social media to address the criticism.
On her Instagram story, she shared a screenshot of her mother’s statement and added her own response: “How can you be ‘childless’ when you have cutie pie kids like Cole and I?” She expressed her love for her three parents—Harris, her biological mother, and her father Doug Emhoff—highlighting the supportive and loving environment they provide.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who himself faced personal struggles with adoption, also weighed in. He criticized Vance’s comments as insensitive, noting that Vance’s remarks came during a particularly difficult time for him and his husband Chasten.
Buttigieg argued that public figures should be cautious when discussing others' personal lives and families, emphasizing the importance of focusing on policies that improve the well-being of all families rather than engaging in divisive rhetoric.
The Trump campaign has yet to comment on the controversy. The backlash against Vance's comments underscores ongoing debates about family, leadership, and the role of personal experience in public service.
