Vice President JD Vance accused CBS News this week of harassing his mother-in-law as part of a hit piece that could put his family in danger. The media’s obsession with attempting to exploit family differences on policy matters puts every member of his family in danger.
At a glance:
• JD Vance slammed CBS News for “harassing” his mother-in-law about her DEI work at UC San Diego
• CBS highlighted the contrast between his anti-DEI stance and his mother-in-law’s DEI advocacy
• Vance declared: “This story exists because CBS has decided that harassing my mother-in-law is a reasonable price in order to attack President Trump”
• His mother-in-law, Lakshmi Chilukuri, has worked at UCSD for over 20 years and serves as provost
• Vance affirmed his opposition to DEI while expressing respect for his mother-in-law as a person and family member
Media Crosses the Line
Vice President JD Vance has forcefully condemned CBS News for what he described as harassment of his mother-in-law, Lakshmi Chilukuri, over her diversity, equity, and inclusion work at the University of California San Diego. The network published a story highlighting the apparent contradiction between Vance’s public stance against DEI initiatives and his mother-in-law’s career-long commitment to promoting such policies.
Vance hit back, stating: “This story exists because CBS has decided that harassing my mother-in-law is a reasonable price in order to attack President Trump.”
The media needs to leave innocent family members alone.
Family Values vs. Political Differences
The CBS article detailed Chilukuri’s extensive work on DEI initiatives at UCSD, where she has been employed for over two decades and currently serves as provost. Chilukuri, who immigrated to the United States from India in the late 1970s, has been involved in creating courses focused on race, ethnicity, and gender, and has served on the university’s biological sciences diversity committee.
While acknowledging their policy differences, Vance made it clear where his priorities lie.
“I don’t like DEI, and I’m proud of what our administration has done on that front. But I’ll choose instead to focus on her kindness and the fact that she’s an incredible mother and loving grandmother to the most important people in my life,” the Vice President said.
Vice President Vance has previously spoken positively about his mother-in-law, noting that she took a year off from her career to help care for his son in 2020. This personal sacrifice demonstrates the strong family bonds that transcend political differences, something the CBS report seemingly attempted to exploit.
Trump Administration’s Anti-DEI Stance
Vance’s criticism of DEI aligns with the broader Trump administration’s commitment to rolling back what they see as divisive identity politics in American institutions. The administration has made fighting “wokeness” a priority in its early weeks, potentially putting institutions like UCSD, with its $1.4 billion endowment, under increased scrutiny.
Despite these policy disagreements, Vance is planning a trip to India, his wife and mother-in-law’s homeland, later this month. Why? Because family members can disagree – and the media needs to get over it.
