The latest controversy surrounding Vice President JD Vance did not originate from a policy dispute or a legislative fight, but from a personal and deeply inflammatory comment made by a prominent New York Times columnist.
Jamelle Bouie, writing on the left-leaning social media platform Bluesky, suggested that Vance’s mother would have been justified in attempting to sell her own son for drugs, a remark that immediately drew attention for its cruelty and for how far it pushed political commentary into personal degradation.
Bouie’s comments were prompted by Vance’s recent interview with the Daily Mail, in which the vice president declined to apologize to the family of Alex Pretti, a Minnesota shooting victim, after accusing Pretti of showing up with what Vance described as “ill intent” at an immigration enforcement protest.
Bouie reacted sharply, calling Vance “a wicked man who knows he is being wicked and does it anyway,” and mocking what he described as a self-satisfied smirk during the interview. The tone quickly escalated from criticism of conduct to attacks on character.
The most explosive remarks came when Bouie responded to another user who labeled Vance “pompous.” Bouie wrote, “No wonder his mom tried to sell him for Percocets,” later adding that he could not imagine a parent who would not do the same “if they knew he would turn out like this.”
He attempted to frame the comment as metaphorical by calling Vance “an addict” addicted to power, but the damage was already done. Tcjhe post invoked one of the most painful chapters of Vance’s life, turning a history of family addiction into a political weapon.
Vance has long spoken openly about his mother, Beverly Aikins, and her struggles with substance abuse, most notably in his bestselling memoir Hillbilly Elegy. He detailed how her addiction began with a legitimate prescription and spiraled into criminal behavior, while also emphasizing his enduring love for her and his commitment to her recovery.
Far from disowning her, Vance has repeatedly credited her eventual sobriety as a central part of his life story. In April 2025, he even led a White House celebration marking her ten years of sobriety.
Today, Aikins works as a nurse at a substance abuse treatment center in Cincinnati, a fact that underscores the distance between her past struggles and Bouie’s casual insult. Fox News Digital reached out to both The New York Times and Vance’s office for comment, but at the time of reporting, no response had been issued.