Vice President Kamala Harris left JD Vance’s family in the cold, denying them a customary pre-inauguration tour of the vice president’s residence, as the Daily Mail reports. This break from tradition raised eyebrows and sparked chatter about Harris’ priorities. A polite gesture could have smoothed the transition, but Harris chose otherwise.
Harris’ refusal to invite Vance’s family, including his young children, to see their future home before moving in created an awkward handover. JD Vance and his wife, Usha, hoped to familiarize their kids with the 9,000-square-foot Queen Anne-style residence, complete with 33 rooms and elegant turrets. Instead, they faced a chilly rebuff, setting a sour tone.
Tradition holds that outgoing vice presidents welcome their successors to the residence, located two miles from the White House. In 2009, Dick Cheney and his wife, Lynn, hosted Joe and Jill Biden warmly. The Bidens later extended the same courtesy to Mike Pence's family in 2016, making Harris’ snub stand out.
The Pence family skipped hosting Harris and Doug Emhoff in 2020, citing the coronavirus pandemic and political tensions over Trump’s election challenges. Sources close to Harris claimed she was distracted by a canceled overseas trip and California wildfires, per CBS News. These excuses didn’t soften the sting for Vance’s supporters.
“They had never seen this house and Usha really wanted to show them,” Vance said. His words highlight a missed opportunity for Harris to show basic courtesy. Instead, her team’s focus seemed elsewhere, leaving the Vance family to navigate the transition alone.
“They were rebuffed,” Vance noted, underscoring the blunt dismissal. Social media lit up with reactions, one user quipping, “Wow, Kamala’s already dodging basic courtesy?” The sentiment reflects a growing frustration with Harris’ apparent disregard for protocol.
Another user called Harris’ move “just petty,” pointing to the refusal to let Vance’s kids see their new home. The decision fueled perceptions of Harris as aloof, prioritizing optics over empathy. A Vance supporter even remarked, “It’s probably just as well that his sweet young children weren’t exposed to that woman & her dysfunctional family members.”
Harris addressed the controversy on the Katie Miller podcast, but her response lacked depth. She left a note in Vance’s office, described as polite but boilerplate -- hardly a warm gesture. Critics saw this as a half-hearted attempt to smooth things over.
The Vance family, undeterred, has settled into the residence, the first with young children since Al Gore’s family in 1993. They’ve added desks for schoolwork and a golf simulator for JD Vance. “It actually feels like a real home now,” Vance said, turning a snub into a fresh start.
The residence, with its wraparound porch and grand staircases, is now a bustling family hub. Usha Vance handles grocery shopping, while staff keep the kitchen stocked and meals prepared. The family’s efforts to maintain normalcy shine through despite Harris’ initial cold shoulder.
“It’s kind of a crazy new world we live in, but there are definitely perks to it,” Vance remarked. His optimism contrasts sharply with Harris’ detachment. The Vance family’s resilience paints a picture of grounded priorities.
JD Vance makes breakfast for his children, a ritual to keep family life steady. “I try to have as many of these rituals as possible that just remind the kids, I’m still your dad,” he said. This commitment to normalcy underscores what Harris overlooked -- a family’s need for a smooth transition.
Harris’ nieces visited the residence during her tenure, and the Bidens often hosted their grandchildren there. Yet, Harris couldn’t extend the same warmth to Vance’s young children. The contrast highlights a missed chance to build goodwill.
Some saw Harris’ actions as a deliberate snub, a view echoed online: “Very telling. Thank goodness we literally dodged that bullet.” The reaction captures a broader distrust in Harris’ leadership style.
The Vance family’s move-in, though initially awkward, shows their ability to rise above petty politics. Harris’ failure to uphold a simple tradition speaks volumes about her priorities. In a role demanding grace, this misstep leaves a lasting impression.
