Print Print    Close Close

JD Vance should have been sold by his mother for drugs, NYT columnist says

By Lindsay Kornick

Published February 05, 2026

Fox News
JD Vance honors mothers sobriety during RNC address Video

New York Times columnist Jamelle Bouie suggested Vice President JD Vance's mother was right to have attempted to sell him for drugs in a Bluesky post on Wednesday.

In a series of comments on the left-wing platform, Bouie criticized Vance for a recent interview with the Daily Mail where he declined to apologize to Minnesota shooting victim Alex Pretti's family after accusing him of showing up with "ill intent" at an immigration enforcement protest.

"[T]his is a wicked man who knows he is being wicked and does it anyway," Bouie wrote.

He added, "like, do you see that smirk? that brief 'ain’t i a stinker' grin? beneath contempt."

VANCE CALLS CNN, OTHER MEDIA OUTLETS 'ABSOLUTE DISGRACE' OVER WHAT THEY LEFT OUT OF MINNEAPOLIS ICE SHOOTING

JD Vance at White House press briefing

New York Times columnist Jamelle Bouie insulted Vice President JD Vance in a series of Bluesky posts. (Bonnie Cash/UPI/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Bouie also responded to a comment calling Vance "pompous" while musing "No wonder his mom tried to sell him for Percocets."

"[I] can’t imagine a parent who wouldn’t sell little JD for percocet if they knew he would turn out like this," Bouie remarked.

He added, "to be a bit serious one irony of vance’s life is that he is also an addict: addicted to power and clearly willing to sell anything to get it."

LIBERAL RADIO HOST TRASHES VANCE’S RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS MOTHER: SUBJECTING WOMEN TO HIS ‘MOMMY ISSUES’

Fox News Digital reached out to The New York Times and Vance's office for comment.

Vance has frequently discussed his mother, Beverly Aikins, and her history of addiction during his childhood.

JD Vance with his mother Beverly Aikins at the 2024 inauguration.

Jamelle Bouie agreed with a post suggesting "no wonder" JD Vance's mother "tried to sell him for Percocets." (Shawn Thew/Reuters)

Aikins’ addiction began with a legitimate prescription for medication, but led to her stealing drugs from her patients, as detailed in his bestselling book, "Hillbilly Elegy."

Throughout the book, Vance detailed remaining committed to her recovery.

VARIETY'S FILM CRITIC WRITES 'HILLBILLY ELEGY' FILM 'MAY HAVE CREATED A MONSTER' LEGITIMIZING JD VANCE

"I knew that a mother could love her son despite the grip of addiction," he wrote. "I knew that my family loved me, even when they struggled to take care of themselves."

In April 2025, Vance led a celebration at the White House in honor of his mother achieving a decade of sobriety.

JD Vance and his mother Beverly Aikins at the White House

Vice President JD Vance celebrated his mother, Beverly Aikins, for a decade of sobriety. (White House office)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Today, Aikins works at Seacrest Recovery Center, a substance abuse treatment center in Cincinnati, Ohio, which lists her as a nurse on its website.

Lindsay Kornick is an associate editor for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to lindsay.kornick@fox.com and on Twitter: @lmkornick.

Print Print    Close Close

URL

https://www.foxnews.com/media/jd-vance-should-have-been-sold-his-mother-drugs-nyt-columnist-says

  • Home
  • Video
  • Politics
  • U.S.
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment
  • Tech
  • Science
  • Health
  • Travel
  • Lifestyle
  • World
  • Sports
  • Weather
  • Privacy
  • Terms

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. © FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by LSEG. Do Not Sell my Personal Information - New Terms of Use - FAQ