Psaki Remarks About Vance Spark Backlash

On an episode of the “I’ve Had It” podcast, former White House press secretary Jen Psaki joked that Second Lady Usha Vance should “blink four times” to be saved and called Vice President JD Vance a “little Manchurian candidate,” saying he is in some ways “scarier” than President Trump. The clip and its description went viral, prompting widespread backlash across conservative media and social platforms, with pundits demanding an apology and calling the remarks an insult to women. Vance, who was traveling in Israel with his wife, denounced Psaki’s comments as “disgraceful,” praised Usha publicly, and said he was honored to have her by his side as they continue to serve. MAGA commentators and Trump aides amplified the criticism and accused Psaki of slander and projection. Reporting noted the couple met at Yale Law, married in 2014, and that Usha often accompanies the vice president on official trips, providing personal context to the dispute.