Fox News host Gowdy challenges Vance on childless criticism

Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), former President Trump’s newly announced running mate, conducts a walk-through of the stage for the Republican National Convention at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee on July 16, 2024.

Fox News host Trey Gowdy questioned Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) on Sunday over a past remarks from the VP candidate criticizing people who are “childless” and calling Vice President Harris a “cat lady” in an insult that has resulted in bipartisan blowback.

Gowdy, himself a former congressman, defended those without children in the opening monologue of his show. He shared a story of meeting a pair of Catholic nuns who prayed for his friend, who was expecting a child, after spending the day together in an airport.

“And it’s not just Catholic nuns. Some of the finest people I know don’t have children,” Gowdy said. “Teachers and guidance counselors and lawyers and doctors, and they love other people’s children enough to teach and guide and protect and minister to them. Some people choose not to have children. Others desperately want them, but they can’t.”

“The American people are forgiving, if we ask,” he added before welcoming Vance on the show.

Vance did not apologize for the comments, originally from 2021, instead accusing Democrats of being “anti-family.” 

“If you look at what the left has done, they have radically taken this out of context and in fact, aggressively lied about what I’ve said,” Vance said. “The left has increasingly become explicitly anti child and anti family. They’ve encouraged young families not to have children at all, because of concerns over climate change.”

Gowdy again challenged Vance over the comments, pointing out that Condoleezza Rice, Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and George Washington are among American leaders without children.

Vance agreed with Gowdy’s assessment that “direct offspring are not necessary to be fully invested in the future of this country,” but went on to say being a parent “really does transform your perspective.”

“So this is not a criticism, and was never a criticism, of everybody without children. That is a lie of the left. It is a criticism of the increasingly anti-parent and anti-child attitude of the left,” Vance said.

The senator added that he won’t back down from his rhetoric, despite the criticism.

“I’m going to keep on calling that out because I think it’s important for parents to have a voice,” he said. “I’m proud to be on the ticket with President Trump, a real defender of parents and families.”