Vance's mom reacts to El-Sayed knocks on family: 'Probably punch him'

Melissa Nann Burke, The Detroit News on Sep 3, 2026

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The mother of Vice President JD Vance suggested that she would "probably punch" Michigan Democratic Senate hopeful Abdul El-Sayed if she encountered him over his knocks on her family, saying, "I think that man's an idiot."

"It makes me mad, honestly, because he doesn't know JD, and he doesn't know, you know, what type of person he is, and I do," Beverly Vance Aikins said on the OutKick show "Tomi Lahren is Fearless."

"But in the long run, I'm not going to do anything about it. I mean, I'd probably punch the guy if I ever see him, and then that would get me in trouble," she added. "I'll just go with the flow."

Lahren asked Aikins why she thinks people "take shots" at her family or daughter-in-law, as El-Sayed has. Aikins said the family just laughs it off.

"I think they're jealous, honestly. I mean, JD's 42 years old. He's handsome. He's the vice president of the United States. He's got a beautiful wife, four beautiful children, and jealousy is the only thing I can think of," Aikins said. "So I mean, he can take all the shots he wants. ... It's gonna get no merit from any of us."

El-Sayed's campaign did not respond to a request for comment.

El-Sayed last week on social media suggested that JD Vance's grandfather wouldn't have approved of his interracial marriage to Usha Vance, the second lady, who is Indian American. El-Sayed also mused about the Vance marriage during an April podcast interview on "The Allen Analysis Show."

"What do you think is going through Usha's head when he talks? She's like, ‘Damn, I have to sleep with him,’" El-Sayed said.

"I guess she’s pregnant, so something is happening," El-Sayed continued. "Can you imagine, he’s got Brown kids. At some point, he’s going to have a really awkward conversation with his kids, like, you made your career hating people who are different."

Those remarks were played back on the air for Aikins for her reaction:

"I think that man's an idiot. Those are my babies. I love those babies and would do anything for any of them," Aikins said.

"And I love Usha as if she were my own daughter. She's one of the best, most genuine people I've ever met, and she loves my son. And she's a good mother. And I don't pay attention to people like that."

JD Vance also hit back at El-Sayed for his remarks about his family during an Aug. 31 speech in Sterling Heights.

"I actually think the people of Michigan think it's kind of weird when you talk about another guy's wife," Vance said. "… Whatever you want to talk about, Abdul, keep my wife's name the hell out of your mouth because she's way out of your league."

El-Sayed rival, Republican Senate nominee Mike Rogers of White Lake Township, also criticized El-Sayed for his suggestion that Vance's grandfather would have frowned upon his marrying an Indian-American woman.

"To the Indian American community across Michigan, I'm sorry that we have a candidate running for the Senate who doesn't have the decency to treat you with the respect you deserve," Rogers said Monday.

"You have a home here in the Republican Party. Usha Vance is a smart, elegant, poised and a great role model for young people around the country."

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(Staff writer Beth LeBlanc contributed.)