Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s running mate, JD Vance, has defended his 2021 remarks about Vice President Kamala Harris, which recently resurfaced and sparked significant controversy. Vance’s defense comes after a 2021 interview, in which he referred to Harris and her supporters as “childless cat ladies,” went viral on social media.

The controversy erupted just days after President Joe Biden endorsed Harris as the Democratic presidential nominee. During an appearance on a popular US news show, Vance claimed that his remarks were intended as sarcasm, aimed at criticizing the Democratic Party’s stance on family issues rather than targeting individuals without children.

On “The Megyn Kelly Show” this past Friday, Vance argued that the Democratic Party has become increasingly “anti-family” and “anti-child.” He emphasized that his comments were not meant to disparage those who cannot have children for various reasons but to highlight what he perceives as a lack of commitment to family values among Democrats.

Kerstin Emhoff, the mother of Harris’s stepchildren, came to the Vice President’s defense, describing Harris as a loving co-parent and condemning Vance’s comments as “baseless.” Emhoff’s support underscores the growing backlash against Vance, with numerous Democrats rallying around Harris.

Critics, including actress Jennifer Aniston, have accused Vance of sexism, arguing that his language is inappropriate for someone in a potential leadership position. Supporters of Harris have also pointed out that no US president has ever given birth, as all presidents have been men, further challenging Vance’s comments.