Former President Donald Trump has come to the defense of author JD Vance after he made a disparaging comment about Vice President Kamala Harris, referring to her as a “cat lady” during a recent appearance on Tucker Carlson’s Fox News show.
Vance, who is running for Senate in Ohio, made the comment in response to a question about the current administration’s handling of the border crisis. He said, “Kamala Harris is the most unpopular vice president in modern American history. She’s done absolutely nothing to help the border crisis. She’s too busy visiting a French bakery or a cat lady store somewhere.”
The comment drew widespread criticism from Democrats and women’s rights advocates, who accused Vance of using a sexist and derogatory term to describe the vice president. However, Trump defended Vance’s remarks, saying that he was just “speaking the truth” and that Harris deserved the criticism.
In a statement released through his Save America PAC, Trump said, “JD Vance is right to call out Kamala Harris for her lack of action on the border crisis. She has been a disaster as vice president, and the American people deserve better. It’s time for her to step up and do her job, instead of wasting time on frivolous activities like visiting cat lady stores.”
Trump’s defense of Vance’s comments is just the latest example of his willingness to support and amplify controversial statements made by his allies and fellow Republicans. Throughout his presidency, Trump was known for his penchant for making inflammatory remarks and attacking his political opponents, often using derogatory language and name-calling.
Critics of Trump argue that his defense of Vance’s comments only serves to further divide an already polarized political landscape and perpetuate harmful stereotypes and tropes about women in positions of power. They point out that using derogatory terms like “cat lady” to describe a female politician not only diminishes their accomplishments and qualifications but also reinforces harmful gender stereotypes.
It remains to be seen how Vance’s comments and Trump’s defense will impact his Senate campaign in Ohio, but one thing is clear: the use of derogatory language and personal attacks in political discourse only serves to further erode trust and civility in our democracy. As leaders and public figures, it is important to choose our words carefully and treat each other with respect, regardless of political differences.