Vice President Kamala Harris has declined to invite incoming Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha, to the traditional tour of the Vice President’s residence.
The Vice President’s official residence is a cottage located on the grounds of the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C.
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Following Donald Trump’s loss in the 2020 election to Joe Biden, Melania Trump faced criticism for not inviting incoming First Lady Jill Biden on a tour of the presidential residence at the White House in 2021. However, Melania’s decision was understandable, given the belief among Trump supporters that the election was fraudulent.
In an interview with “Fox and Friends” that aired on Monday, Melania expressed frustration that the Obamas did not provide her with sufficient information when she moved into the White House residence in 2016. However, she now has a better understanding of the house’s layout and furniture placement.
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In November, JD Vance’s wife, Usha Vance, reached out to Kamala Harris’ staff, seeking details such as the necessary childproofing measures for the residence. JD and Usha have three children, Ewan, Vivek, and Mirabel, all under the age of eight.
Initially, Harris’ staff ignored Usha’s inquiries. However, they subsequently communicated with Navy aides who oversee the residence. Before Christmas, Navy officials contacted the Vances to discuss the residence’s layout, logistics of the move-in, and address any questions they may have had. A person familiar with the call shared this information with CBS News.
Usha Vance had a 40-minute conversation with Harris’ husband, Doug Emhoff, last week, according to sources. However, despite this, Harris herself hasn’t reached out to Mrs. Vance to offer her a tour, which is customary during a peaceful transition of power.
People close to Harris claim that she was never invited to visit the VP residence by Karen Pence, the former Vice President’s wife, before she was sworn in in 2021.
It’s unclear where Harris and Emhoff will reside when they leave the Naval Observatory residence. Their 3,500 square foot home in the affluent Brentwood suburb of Los Angeles is under an evacuation order due to the wildfires.
