Vice President J.D. Vance responded forcefully this week to critics who have made personal attacks against his wife, Usha Vance, drawing national attention after comments he made in an interview with the outlet UnHerd. Speaking candidly, Vance said that anyone who targets his wife should expect zero tolerance from him, regardless of political affiliation or media status.
“Anyone who attacks my wife, whether their name is Jen Psaki or Nick Fuentes, can eat s—. That’s my official policy as vice president of the United States,” Vance said, according to the published transcript of the interview. The remarks quickly circulated online and were widely reported across political media.
The comments came amid renewed attention on online and media criticism directed at Usha Vance, who has largely stayed out of the public spotlight despite her husband’s rise from senator to vice president. Fuentes, a fringe podcaster known for inflammatory rhetoric and antisemitic views, has repeatedly posted about Usha Vance on social media.
JD Vance blasted Nick Fuentes, saying he has zero tolerance for anyone attacking his wife:
“Let me be clear. Anyone who attacks my wife, whether Jen Psaki or Nick Fuentes, can eat SH*T.”
He added, “That’s my official policy as Vice President.”
— Digital Gal (@DigitalGalX) December 22, 2025
In one November 2024 post, Fuentes mocked her name using a crude nickname and has also allegedly used an ethnic slur when referencing her background. Earlier this year, he wrote that conservatives should “keep the same energy” when criticizing public figures over their backgrounds, mentioning Usha Vance and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy in the same post.
Both Usha Vance and Ramaswamy were born in the United States. Fuentes also referenced New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, who was born in Uganda and later became a naturalized U.S. citizen. Critics have said Fuentes’ comments reflect a broader pattern of judging public figures based on ethnicity rather than policy or qualifications.
UnHerd asked Vance directly whether he disavows Fuentes. In response, the vice president said he finds any effort to judge people based on ethnic heritage unacceptable.
“My attitude towards anybody, again, who is calling for judging people based on their ethnic heritage, whether they’re Jewish or white or anything else, it’s disgusting,” Vance said. “We shouldn’t be doing it.”
JUST IN: JD Vance says Nick Fuentes can “eat sh*t” after Fuentes attacked Vance’s wife, Usha
“Let me be clear. Anyone who attacks my wife, whether their name is Jen Psaki or Nick Fuentes, can eat sh*t. That’s my official policy as vice president of the United States,” Vance… pic.twitter.com/aSeZwjrpWF
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) December 22, 2025
JUST IN: JD Vance says Nick Fuentes can “eat sh*t” after Fuentes attacked Vance’s wife, UshaVance also pushed back on claims that Fuentes holds real sway within conservative politics or the Trump administration. He said Fuentes’ influence is often overstated and suggested that focus on the podcaster can distract from larger policy debates.
“That said, I think that Nick Fuentes, his influence within Donald Trump’s administration, and within a whole host of institutions on the Right, is vastly overstated and frankly, it’s overstated by people who want to avoid having a foreign-policy conversation about America’s relationship with Israel,” Vance said.
Criticism of Usha Vance has not come solely from the far right. Former Biden White House press secretary Jen Psaki, now a host on MS NOW, also drew backlash after remarks she made about the second lady during a podcast appearance. Psaki speculated about Usha Vance’s private thoughts and well-being, saying she wondered what was going through her mind and adding, “Are you OK? Please … blink four times … come over here … we’ll save you.”
Those comments were widely criticized by conservatives as inappropriate and personal, particularly given that Usha Vance has not taken on a public political role. Vance has previously said that commentary speculating about his wife’s personal life crosses a line and should be considered out of bounds.
Usha Vance, an attorney and Yale Law School graduate, has generally avoided media attention since her husband entered national politics. Supporters of the vice president have argued that criticism directed at her reflects a broader trend of targeting family members of elected officials rather than focusing on policy decisions.
The exchange adds to ongoing discussions in Washington about political discourse, media responsibility, and the treatment of public officials’ families. While heated rhetoric remains common in modern politics, Vance’s remarks make clear that, from his perspective, attacks on his wife are not part of acceptable debate, regardless of whether they come from ideological allies or opponents.
