Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, hosted JD Vance and his family at the White House just a few hours ahead of the inauguration. The Vances, comprising Usha Vance and their three young children, will be settling into the official residence of the Vice President located at the Naval Observatory, where this has become a tradition since the 1970s.
However, the transition was not without challenges. Social media users speculated about Harris’s apparent reluctance, as she seemed uneasy during the formal photo session with the Vances. Reports indicated that Harris had previously resisted efforts to familiarize the Vances with the vice-presidential residence.
In November, Usha Vance contacted Emhoff’s staff to request childproofing the historic Queen Anne-style mansion, as all their children are under the age of eight. According to reports, the request was rebuffed by a political appointee of Harris. The Vances eventually coordinated with the Navy, which oversees the residence, and Usha Vance had a 40-minute conversation with Emhoff. Although she initially hesitated, plans to baby-proof the home was already being prepared by Harris herself.
The bumpy start echoes Harris’s experience in 2021, when Donald Trump would not concede, making her transition into the vice president’s residence more complicated. Even though the former vice president’s staff said that Pence invited Harris over for a tour, it was made privately and without the knowledge of Donald Trump.
On the inaugural day, JD Vance was captured helping Usha out of the car. Harris and Emhoff welcomed them prior to taking the photo. In the picture, JD Vance can be seen flanking Harris with Usha Vance on the right side of Emhoff as a symbol of transfer of power after all the allegations.