Beverly Vance Aikins, the mother of Vice President JD Vance, has publicly responded to criticism directed at her son's family by Michigan Democratic Senate hopeful Abdul El-Sayed. In an interview with Tomi Lahren, Aikins stated that she would "probably punch the guy" if she ever encountered El-Sayed following his repeated remarks about Second Lady Usha Vance and their children.
El-Sayed made comments in April on "The Allen Analysis Show" regarding the biracial background of Vance's children, suggesting their father's political views conflicted with their identity. He stated, "JD Vance has brown kids who he thinks are less American than everyone else. Like that's wild to look at your own kids and be like you don’t actually belong as much in this country that I brought you into." El-Sayed also implied that Usha Vance should leave her husband, saying, "Usha get out…you’ve still got time."
More recently, El-Sayed made remarks that appeared to reference Usha Vance's Indian heritage in relation to Vance's comments about Sharia law. While campaigning for GOP Senate nominee Mike Rogers in Michigan, Vice President Vance addressed El-Sayed's comments, stating, "I actually think that the people of Michigan think it's kind of weird when you talk about another guy's wife." He added, "But whatever you want to talk about, Abdul, keep my wife's name the hell out of your mouth, because she's way out of your league."
Aikins expressed her feelings on El-Sayed's remarks, telling Lahren, "I mean, it makes me mad, honestly, because he doesn't know JD and he doesn't know, you know, what type of person he is, and I do." She added that she believes El-Sayed's comments stem from jealousy, noting Vance is "handsome," the Vice President, has a "beautiful wife, four beautiful children."
According to Aikins, El-Sayed's attacks are without merit. "I mean, he can take all the shots he wants. It's going to go, you know, it's going to get no merit from any of us," she said. The interview with Aikins also touched upon her personal journey overcoming opioid addiction and her son's political career.