Resurfaced audio: J.D. Vance appeared on Breitbart to claim “the Kamala Harrises” “want to take our kids and brainwash them” because “they don't have kids”

Vance to Harris: “If you want to brainwash children, have your own kids to brainwash.”

Written by Eric Hananoki

Published

In remarks newly resurfaced by Media Matters, Republican vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance appeared on Breitbart News and claimed that the left’s “next generation leaders,” including “the Kamala Harrises, they don't have kids. And so there's this weird way where they want to take our kids and brainwash them so that their ideas continue to exist in the next generation.” 

Vance added: “If you want to brainwash children, have your own kids to brainwash.” 

Vance is an author, commentator, former CNN contributor, and current U.S. senator from Ohio picked by former President Donald Trump to serve as his running mate in 2024. 

Since Vice President Harris started her presidential campaign, right-wing media figures have unleashed a torrent of misogynistic attacks against her. Those remarks include attacking her for supposedly being childless. 

Media outlets have also resurfaced remarks from Vance attacking the vice president for supposedly being childless. (Harris, in fact, is a stepmother with two stepchildren.) During a 2021 Fox News appearance, Vance referred to Harris and other Democrats as “childless cat ladies” who “want to make the rest of the country miserable, too.” He also spoke at the conservative Intercollegiate Studies Institute and criticized “the childless left" and included Harris. 

Vance continued attacking Harris for supposedly not having children during the October 4, 2021, edition of Breitbart News Daily. While speaking with host Alex Marlow, Vance criticized the left’s “next generation leaders” because “they don't have kids.” He added: “If you want to brainwash children, have your own kids to brainwash.” 

J.D. Vance on Breitbart Radio

From the October 4, 2021, edition of Breitbart News Daily

J.D. VANCE: One of the things I've beat up on the left about is that so many of their leader, their next generation leaders, you know, the AOCs, the Cory Bookers, the Kamala Harrises, they don't have kids. And so there's this weird way where they want to take our kids and brainwash them so that their ideas continue to exist in the next generation. And I just say, look: Leave your hands off of our children. Stop trying to brainwash them. Parents get to raise their children. Families get to raise their children, not the state, not the leaders of the left. If you want to brainwash children, have your own kids to brainwash. Leave your hands off of mine.

At the time, Breitbart promoted Vance’s comments with the headline, “Exclusive — J.D. Vance: Childless Leftists like AOC, Cory Booker, Kamala Harris ‘Want to Take Our Kids and Brainwash Them.’” The site does not appear to have reupped Vance’s remarks in light of recent controversy, though it did run an Associated Press story on Vance’s other statements. 

Vance made his remarks during his successful run for U.S. Senate. Media Matters has frequently documented the incendiary rhetoric of right-wing commentators who become political candidates.