Major Controversies Surrounding JD Vance: A Detailed Timeline

Public opinion and media debates around JD Vance—discover key moments of controversy.

J.D. Vance is an American politician, author, attorney, and Marine Corps veteran who served as the 50th vice president of the United States and as a U.S. Senator representing Ohio from 2023 to 2025. Affiliated with the Republican Party, Vance also held the position of finance chair of the Republican National Committee while serving as vice president.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals

2014: Communications Alleging Change in Opinion

In July 2024, a former friend of Vance's from Yale Law School exposed to the media communications between them and Vance from 2014 to 2017, with the friend alleging that Vance changed his opinion on several issues.

2017: Communications Alleging Change in Opinion

2018: Satel's Residency in Appalachia

In 2018, Sally Satel's yearlong residency in Ohio's Appalachian region was the charity's biggest accomplishment, but it was "tainted" by ties among Satel, AEI, and Purdue Pharma.

2019: AP and ProPublica Investigation

According to a 2019 ProPublica investigation, the biggest accomplishment of Vance's charity, Our Ohio Renewal, was "tainted" by ties among Sally Satel, her employer, and Purdue Pharma.

2019: Our Ohio Renewal Foundation inactivity

As of September 2024, the Our Ohio Renewal foundation had not spent any funds since 2019.

2020: Vance Claims of Rigged Election

In October 2024, J.D. Vance said he did not believe Trump lost the 2020 presidential election and believed Big Tech rigged the election through censorship.

2020: Childless People Sociopathic

In a 2020 podcast interview, Vance said that being childless "makes people more sociopathic and ultimately our whole country a little bit less, less mentally stable".

March 2021: Comments on Childless Teachers and Increased Taxes

In March 2021, Vance suggested childless teachers were "trying to brainwash the minds of our children", and that childless people should be taxed at a higher rate than those with children.

2021: Comments on Childless Cat Ladies

Shortly after being named Trump's running mate, Vance was criticized for saying in a 2021 Fox News interview, "we are effectively run in this country via the Democrats, via our corporate oligarchs, by a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives and the choices that they've made and so they want to make the rest of the country miserable too."

2022: Criticism of Our Ohio Renewal

During J.D. Vance's 2022 U.S. Senate campaign, Tim Ryan criticized Our Ohio Renewal as a front for Vance's political ambitions.

July 2023: Introduced Legislation on Gender-Affirming Care

In July 2023, J.D. Vance and Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene introduced legislation that would have made gender-affirming care for minors a federal crime.

2023: AppHarvest Bankruptcy

In 2023, AppHarvest went bankrupt while owing over $340 million.

June 2024: Sponsored the Dismantle DEI Act

In June 2024, J.D. Vance sponsored the Dismantle DEI Act, which would ban federal diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.

July 26, 2024: Vance Clarifies Childless Cat Ladies Comments

On July 26, 2024, J.D. Vance clarified his 2021 remarks on The Megyn Kelly Show, saying, "It's not a criticism of people who don't have children" and "this is about criticizing the Democratic Party for becoming anti-family and anti-child".

August 2024: Backtracked on Voting Power Suggestion

In August 2024, J.D. Vance backtracked from his previous suggestion that parents should have more voting power than non-parents.

August 2024: Vance Interview on Vice Presidential Impact and Arlington Controversy

In August 2024, J.D. Vance stated that a vice president "doesn't really matter" and criticized Kamala Harris. He also commented on the controversy surrounding Trump's visit to Arlington National Cemetery, making controversial statements about Harris.

September 2024: Our Ohio Renewal Foundation inactivity

As of September 2024, the Our Ohio Renewal Foundation had not spent any funds since 2019.

September 2024: Allegations of Haitian Immigrants Eating Pets

In September 2024, J.D. Vance made allegations of "Haitian illegal immigrants draining social services and generally causing chaos all over Springfield, Ohio. Reports now show that people have had their pets abducted and eaten by people who shouldn't be in this country".

September 2024: Vance Speaks at Wallnau Town Hall

In September 2024, J.D. Vance spoke at a western Pennsylvania town hall event organized by Lance Wallnau, who has promoted election denialism and called Kamala Harris a "demon".

October 2024: Vance Claims of Rigged Election

In October 2024, J.D. Vance said he did not believe Trump lost the 2020 presidential election and believed Big Tech rigged the election through censorship.

2024: Vance Meets with Zelenskyy

During a 2024 meeting with Zelenskyy, Vance accused Zelenskyy of showing a "propaganda tour" of Ukraine and falsely said Zelenskyy "went to Pennsylvania and campaigned for the opposition in October" 2024.

February 2025: Comments on Executive Power

In February 2025, after multiple federal judges issued temporary rulings against various Trump administration actions, Vance wrote, "judges aren't allowed to control the executive's legitimate power".

2025: Cousin Criticized JD's Stance on Ukraine

In 2025, Nate Vance criticized JD's stance on Ukraine, accusing him and Trump of aiding Russia. Nate expressed disappointment that JD didn't consult him for insights on the war.