WASHINGTON — Vice President JD Vance has expressed regret over a controversial remark he made during the 2021 campaign, in which he characterized certain Democratic leaders as “childless cat ladies.” In his forthcoming memoir, *Communion*, set for release on Tuesday, Vance calls the comment “one of the dumbest things I ever said” while acknowledging it was intended to be provocative.

Vance reflects on the backlash from the statement, which he admits sparked “two firestorms” — first at the time he made it and again during the 2024 political campaign when it resurfaced. “It was a bone-headed comment, intentionally (and successfully) provocative rather than illuminating,” Vance writes in an excerpt shared with media outlets. He also takes responsibility for failing to show empathy toward those without children, noting his awareness of the Roman Catholic Church’s teaching on respecting the dignity of every life.

The remark was initially made during an appearance on Fox News’s *Tucker Carlson Tonight* in 2021, when Vance criticized Vice President Kamala Harris and other Democratic figures. He said the country was effectively run by “a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives and the choices that they’ve made, and so they want to make the rest of the country miserable, too.” Vance named Harris, Pete Buttigieg, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as emblematic of what he described as the future leadership of the Democratic Party.

The comment attracted renewed attention in 2024 after Harris was nominated as the Democratic presidential candidate and Vance joined Donald Trump’s ticket as his vice-presidential running mate. At that time, Vance acknowledged the controversy but downplayed its significance, telling NBC News’s *Meet The Press* that “making a joke three years ago is not at the top 10 of the list” of his regrets.

The phrase also drew cultural reactions, notably when singer Taylor Swift embraced the label of “Childless Cat Lady” in an endorsement of Harris, framing it positively. Vance’s memoir discusses the broader political and personal challenges he faced, including his stance against abortion and the associated political unpopularity he encountered as a Christian politician.