JD Vance Slams CBS for Article Targeting His Family

JD Vance blasts CBS News for ‘harassing’ his mother-in-law over DEI differences in a controversial article he claims was created solely to attack the Trump administration.

Quick Takes

JD Vance criticized CBS News for publishing an article highlighting his mother-in-law’s DEI advocacy, calling it harassment and an attempt to attack President Trump.
Vance expressed disagreement with DEI initiatives while maintaining respect for his mother-in-law despite their differing views.
Lakshmi Chilukuri, Vance’s mother-in-law, created a course on race, ethnicity, and gender at UC San Diego and serves on a diversity committee.
The article comes amid broader Trump administration efforts to eliminate DEI programs from federal institutions.
CBS News’ parent company, Paramount, has also ceased DEI initiatives following Trump’s presidency.

Vance Defends Family While Standing Firm on Policy

Vice President JD Vance has publicly criticized CBS News for what he describes as harassment of his mother-in-law, Lakshmi Chilukuri, in an article about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. The CBS piece highlighted Chilukuri’s role in advancing DEI initiatives at the University of California San Diego, creating an apparent contrast with the Trump administration’s opposition to such programs. Vance’s response revealed the personal nature of the conflict, as he defended his family while maintaining his stance against DEI policies that have become a significant focus of the administration.

In his statement, Vance acknowledged the political differences between himself and his mother-in-law but emphasized that these disagreements don’t diminish their family bond. Chilukuri, who created a course on race, ethnicity, and gender at UC San Diego and serves on a diversity committee, represents a viewpoint on DEI that stands in contrast to the administration’s efforts to eliminate such programs. Despite this, Vance has maintained that family relationships transcend political disagreements, a sentiment that resonates with many American families navigating political divides.

JD Vance scolds CBS for ‘harassing’ his mother-in-law over DEI differences ‘in order to attack’ Trump https://t.co/dqF5E0rs7O pic.twitter.com/ynIqXJEoRO

— New York Post (@nypost) March 13, 2025

Media Ethics and Family Privacy

The Vice President didn’t mince words when addressing what he viewed as unethical journalism practices. “This story exists because CBS has decided that harassing my mother-in-law is a reasonable price in order to attack President Trump,” Vance stated firmly. The CBS article examined the apparent contradiction between Chilukuri’s DEI advocacy and the administration’s staunch opposition to such initiatives. This approach by the network has raised questions about journalistic boundaries, particularly when reporting involves the extended families of public officials who themselves have not sought the spotlight.

Vance and his wife Usha have been married since 2014 and have three children. Their family dynamics have occasionally been highlighted in the media, particularly given Vance’s rise from the author of “Hillbilly Elegy” to Vice President of the United States. CBS News did not respond to requests for comment from multiple news outlets regarding the controversial article, leaving questions about their editorial decision-making process unanswered as criticism mounted from conservative circles.

Broader Context of DEI Policy Changes

The controversy emerges against the backdrop of significant changes in DEI policies across federal institutions and corporate America. The Trump administration has taken decisive steps to eliminate DEI programs that it argues undermine meritocracy and create unfair advantages. These efforts have included executive orders and directives targeting DEI practices in government, educational institutions, and federal contractors. The administration’s position represents a fundamental shift in approach to workplace and educational diversity initiatives that had gained prominence in recent years.

Adding another layer to the tensions between the administration and CBS, President Trump has filed a $20 billion lawsuit against the network, accusing it of deceptive editing in a “60 Minutes” interview with Kamala Harris during the campaign. This legal action, combined with Vance’s criticism of their reporting on his mother-in-law, highlights the increasingly contentious relationship between the administration and certain media outlets as policy debates over issues like DEI continue to divide Americans along political lines.