Obama calls out Vance for his speeches on migrants that ignore the second lady's background

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: The Independent

Friday 17 July 2026 10:01 EDT


Former President Barack Obama took a rare swipe at JD Vance over his statements on immigrants that ignore the second lady’s life story. Speaking with Malcolm Gladwell on his podcast about post-Civil War Reconstruction’s impact on America, Obama criticized the MAGA politician for his nativist stance on immigration, pointing out that Vance’s own wife, Usha Vance, is the child of immigrants, per Daily Beast reporting.

When asked by Gladwell about his thoughts on the “general project of multiracial democracy now,” Obama said: “One of our major parties is captured by a politics that is not that subtle about suggesting that ‘we the people’ means a certain kind of people.

“When you have the current Vice President making a speech that is basically a blood and soil version of ‘we the people.’ That it matters who your parents were and how long they’ve been here. Despite him being married to…the daughter of an immigrant himself.”

Vance’s wife, Usha, whom he met at Yale Law School and wed in an interfaith ceremony, is the child of two immigrants from India who were living in the U.S. when she was born, automatically granting her U.S. citizenship. Their immigration status at the time of her birth is currently unknown. The Trump administration has sought to end birthright citizenship, which grants citizenship to anyone born in the country, no matter their parents' legal status.

Read more: https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/obama-jd-vance-immigration-usha-b3016921.html

[progressoid]

1. Barack Obama & Malcolm Gladwell: How Reconstruction Still Defines America Reconstruction

Last edited Fri Jul 17, 2026, 03:12 PM - Edit history (1)

The VP comment starts at about the 40 minute mark.

[BurnDoubt]

2. What's wrong with her...

That she doesn’t slap the shit out of him? She’s got to be a Simp.
Oh, I forgot. He’s the man, and she’s not.
Her JOB is to “Fuck and Fry Meat”. (This was an actual quote… Along with: “If they’re old enough to Bleed, they’re old enough to Butcher.”)
(I grew up in the 50’s with an alcoholic, actual Toxic Masculinity, and the Ozark Way. Don’t EVER try to tell me this is what Jesus wanted.)

[Skittles]

3. she MARRIED that POS

that tells me everything I need to know about her

[Joinfortmill]

6. Omg! 'Fuck & Fry Meat'. Haven't heard that one.

[Pinback]

13. Also (sorry, another distasteful one)

from the late science fiction author Harlan Ellison — “a live-in maid with fucking privileges.” (Ellison was a feminist, so the expression was his colorful way of satirizing the patriarchy.)

[BurnDoubt]

18. Yep!

Twelve years old, and hip to the ways of the world. I couldn’t imagine what “pecker-tracks” when I heard it, but it wasn’t long before I connected enough dots from the gist of the conversation, but still wondered why they would be on the headliner.

I Don’t Want To Go Back To That Timeline!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[sop]

9. She wants to be First Lady.

[WorseDayEver]

4. Vance's wife HATES herself

[Pinback]

14. I imagine she's just every bit as much of an opportunist as her husband.

She hitched her wagon to a potential star, and now that the benefits are rolling in, she’s not about to jeopardize that deal.

[Joinfortmill]

5. Excellent point, Mr. President.

[Just Jerome]

7. I suppose

we should anticipate a macho “Don’t you dare talk about my wife” response, but, oh yeah, it’s just j. d. vacuous, so something more smarmy, I guess.

[BradBo]

8. Send her packin.

[NGeorgian]

10. Vance pretends to be Catholic and........

He ignores the church's position on immigrants.

[multigraincracker]

11. Lack of critical thinking.

According to the science there is only one race. The Human Race.
There are more genetic variation with in the “so called” races than there is between them.
I try not to call it racism and use the proper term, bigotry.

[multigraincracker]

12. I celebrate Obama as another Irish President.

There is even an Irish song, There Is No One More Irish Than Barick O’Bama. Check it out on YouTube.

[BumRushDaShow]

15. He even has an exhibit in Moneygall County Offaly

https://www.moneygall.ie/visitor-centre

https://www.tripadvisor.ie/Attraction_Review-g4324100-d10530472-Reviews-Barack_Obama_Plaza_visitor_centre-Moneygall_County_Offaly.html

[Scubamatt]

16. IOKIYAR

Do as I say, not as I do.

One rule for me, a different one for thee.

Choose your favorite version - it's all the same. Republicans don't want to have to follow all the rules they expect the rest of us to follow.

[IronLionZion]

17. Vance would just swap her for eriKKKa to appease the MAGA base

GOP is openly whitewashing everything