Politics can lead to spats even among family members, but in the case of the Vance family, the contrasts appear to be particularly deep. Nate Vance, a volunteer for years in the Ukrainian resistance, strongly criticized his cousin JD Vance, for his behavior during the meeting between Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Nate in an interview the French newspaper Le Figaro, referred to the meeting as a “trap of absolute bad faith,” a serious accusation that highlighted the rift between the two relatives.
The tensions reportedly escalated following the controversial meeting in the Oval Office, during which the two highest-ranking officials of the country publicly asked for gratitude from the Ukrainian president for America’s support to the country, while at the same time they decided to temporarily suspend the sharing of intelligence and military aid with Kyiv.
Nate Vance’s words seemed to be a warning about what he considered a dangerous alignment with Vladimir Putin, as he accused both the Vice President and Donald Trump of trying to placate the Russian president, a behavior he deemed irresponsible. According to him, the United States was acting as “Putin’s useful idiots,” a statement reflecting his frustration with the policies adopted by the American government.
What’s more, in an interview with CNN anchor Erin Burnett, Nate emphasized that the path taken by the Republicans was undermining national interests while also putting the lives of millions of people at risk. Nate, who had personally witnessed the brutality of the Russian invasion, stated that the Russians are not America’s allies and would not be for at least one generation.
The Marine Corps veteran and field volunteer in Ukraine with the “Da Vinci Wolves Battalion” commented bluntly on the confrontation, sharply criticizing the pro-Russian positions adopted during the discussion.
For Nate, the meeting was not only a diplomatic failure but also a betrayal of his beliefs and those of many others who are fighting. Despite attempts to directly contact his relative to discuss his concerns, Nate confirmed that he had not received any response. This silence further fueled his disappointment and highlighted a growing sense of distance between the two.
