VP Vance's Private Family Feud Spills Into Public
Vice President JD Vance listens to President Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Feb. 28, 2025 at the White House. Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok. Public domain.
Vance Responds After Cousin Calls Him 'Putin's Useful Idiot'
A high-profile family feud has erupted within the Vance family after Vice President JD Vance was publicly criticized by his cousin Nate Vance, a Marine veteran who fought in Ukraine. The dispute, which centers on U.S. support for Ukraine, has drawn national attention after Nate accused JD of parroting pro-Russian talking points. Now, the vice president has broken his silence, offering a measured response to his cousin's harsh words.
Family Divided Over Ukraine
Nate, who spent three years fighting on the front lines in Ukraine, made headlines after slamming his cousin in an interview with the French newspaper Le Figaro. He expressed outrage over the Trump administration's treatment of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, accusing JD of engaging in an "ambush of absolute bad faith" during a tense Oval Office meeting with the Ukrainian leader, according to The New Republic.
"When he criticized aid to Ukraine, I told myself that it was because he had to please a certain electorate and that it was a political game," said Nate, as reported by The New Republic. "But what they did to Zelensky was an ambush of absolute bad faith."
Nate Vance's comments didn't stop there. He also labeled Vance and President Donald Trump as "Vladimir Putin's useful idiots" and claimed their rhetoric was endangering the lives of Ukrainian soldiers — including his former comrades, as reported by Fox News.
"You're family but that doesn't mean I'm going to accept the fact that you're getting my comrades killed," Nate said, according to The New Republic.
JD Vance Breaks His Silence
Days after the remarks circulated widely in the press, the vice president issued a response, striking a conciliatory tone while firmly pushing back on some of Nate's assertions.
"I love my cousin Nate, and never spoke publicly about his service in Ukraine because I didn't want to endanger his life more than it already was," JD said in a statement obtained by the Daily Beast. "As far as his criticisms, I have no interest in arguing with him in public, but I do feel the need to address one issue in particular: his failed effort to contact me."
JD refuted Nate's claims that he had attempted to reach out multiple times during his tenure in the Senate, stating that Nate could have contacted him through their family.
"I am unsure why Nate felt the need to reach out to my Senate office, rather than to his mom, dad, or sister, all of whom I am in contact with regularly," JD said, as reported by Fox News. "I always considered Nate the toughest guy I knew, and no matter what he says about me, my affection for him remains. I'm always happy to talk to him," he continued, according to the Daily Beast.
The Rift Continues
Nate later clarified that he couldn't confirm whether JD personally ignored his attempts to connect, but he maintained that his cousin never made any effort to reach out to him while he was in Ukraine.
The dispute underscores the broader political debate over U.S. aid to Ukraine, which has divided the Republican Party. JD has been a vocal critic of continued military support, arguing that the U.S. should prioritize domestic concerns over foreign conflicts. Meanwhile, Nate reportedly remains steadfast in his belief that U.S. support has been crucial in Ukraine's fight against Russia.
As tensions simmer within the family, their political disagreement mirrors the larger rift in Washington over America's role in the war. While JD has extended an olive branch to his cousin, it remains to be seen whether the two will reconcile — or if their views on Ukraine will keep them at odds.
References: JD Vance Attacked by His Own Cousin Who Fought in Ukraine | JD Vance Breaks Silence on Cousin Who Flamed Him Over Zelensky Meeting | What JD Vance Thinks About Cousin Calling Him and Trump 'Vladimir Putin's Useful Idiots'
