Usha Vance's Fox News Interview Misquoted on Social Media

Recent social media posts have misrepresented comments made by Usha Chilukuri Vance, wife of Republican vice-presidential candidate J.D. Vance, regarding her husband's controversial "childless cat ladies" remark. The misquotation stemmed from an interview Usha Vance gave to Fox News on August 5, 2024.

In her first solo interview since J.D. Vance joined the Republican ticket, Usha Vance discussed her immigrant background, handling negative press, and family adjustments following her husband's selection as Donald Trump's running mate. The interview, conducted by "Fox & Friends" co-host Ainsley Earhardt, aired just three months before the scheduled November 5, 2024, U.S. presidential election.

Following the interview, social media posts circulated a fabricated quote attributed to Usha Vance: "My husband did not intend to insult all childless women; his remarks were aimed only at those who choose to be childless, not at those who are trying and unable to have children." However, fact-checkers have confirmed that Usha Vance never uttered these words during the interview.

The misquotation appears to have originated from a misinterpretation of an August 5 Vanity Fair headline about the interview. Some social media users added quotation marks to the headline, falsely presenting it as a direct quote from Usha Vance.

J.D. Vance's original controversial comment dates back to 2021 when he was running for Senate in Ohio. In an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, Vance stated that the U.S. was run by "a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives." He specifically mentioned rising Democratic stars, including Kamala Harris, suggesting that the "future of the Democrats is controlled by people without children" who have no direct stake in the country.

When asked about this comment during the Fox News interview, Usha Vance provided a nuanced response. She emphasized that it was never her husband's intention to hurt people trying to "have a family." Usha Vance suggested focusing on the broader point J.D. Vance was attempting to make about policies and leadership making it challenging to be a parent in the United States.

"And I also understand that there are a lot of other reasons why people may choose not to have them and many of those reasons are very good."

It's worth noting that the U.S. fertility rate has been declining since the 2008 financial crisis, reflecting complex societal and economic factors influencing family planning decisions.

Fact-checkers, including the Reuters Fact Check team, have found no credible news reports or videos of Usha Vance commenting on her husband's "childless cat ladies" remark since J.D. Vance became Donald Trump's vice-presidential pick on July 15, 2024.

This incident highlights the importance of fact-checking in the era of social media misinformation, where quotes can be easily fabricated and spread rapidly. As the 2024 presidential campaign intensifies, voters are encouraged to verify information from reliable sources before sharing or reacting to social media posts.