JD Vance’s wife, Usha Vance, has recently stirred up attention by addressing a curious topic: the speculation around whether or not her husband wears eyeliner. This unlikely issue has emerged in the midst of JD Vance’s already controversial campaign as Donald Trump’s vice-presidential pick. Usha’s comments about his appearance, combined with her defense of his past divisive remarks, come at a precarious moment, adding more complexity to an already rocky political landscape.

The speculation about JD Vance’s appearance has grown after many noticed his unusually striking eyes, with some even suggesting he wears eyeliner. Usha Vance decided to clear the air, stating in an interview that her husband’s look is all-natural and that she has always been jealous of his long eyelashes. This clarification might seem trivial, but it has become a headline-grabbing moment during a campaign already under fire. Beauty experts and social media users have debated the topic, with some insisting that Vance’s defined eyes can’t be natural. Whether or not he wears eyeliner is ultimately inconsequential to voters, but the focus on such a minor issue underscores how strained the discourse around the Vance campaign has become.

However, the eyeliner debate is only one part of Usha Vance’s recent media tour. In a more serious matter, Usha has also defended JD Vance’s infamous comments regarding people who choose not to have children. During the 2021 campaign, JD Vance made controversial remarks referring to “childless cat ladies” and suggested that people who don’t have children are more likely to be sociopathic or unstable. These comments sparked outrage, particularly among women, and have continued to haunt him throughout his political career. Usha Vance attempted to soften these remarks in a recent interview, explaining that her husband never intended to hurt those struggling to have children, only those who actively choose not to have them.

Usha’s defense, however, did little to alleviate the controversy. Instead, it came off as a justification of her husband’s harmful rhetoric. By suggesting that JD’s statements were simply misinterpreted, Usha appears to be walking a delicate line between damage control and deflection. In her interview, she emphasized that JD Vance didn’t mean to offend those who are struggling with infertility, but instead was commenting on societal challenges faced by parents. Yet, this defense does not erase the broader implications of his statements, particularly when JD himself has doubled down on his remarks, often attacking political figures who don’t have children, such as Vice President Kamala Harris, Pete Buttigieg, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

In 2021, JD Vance directly targeted these childless figures, accusing them of lacking a personal stake in America’s future because they didn’t have children. He also conflated Buttigieg’s sexual orientation with his comments, implying that his family was not as legitimate as those with biological children. Usha’s attempts to clean up her husband’s rhetoric fell flat in the face of these past comments. Her defense only muddied the waters further, as she simultaneously suggested that JD didn’t mean to insult anyone while trying to justify his arguments about parenthood.

In a further twist to the Vance campaign saga, Usha Vance also addressed the swirling rumors about JD Vance’s eyeliner use, a topic that seems absurd given the gravity of the political issues at hand. Usha assured reporters that her husband’s striking look is completely natural, though the debate among beauty experts remains lively. Publications like Slate have analyzed JD Vance’s eyes, with some experts arguing that his well-defined lashes and bold eyes are enhanced with makeup, while others believe they are naturally striking.

This bizarre focus on appearance seems trivial compared to the larger political issues at play. However, it highlights how off-balance the Vance campaign has become. Instead of focusing on policy and vision, discussions around JD Vance often devolve into personal controversies, such as his appearance and past statements. This has only served to distract from the substantive issues that should be driving his campaign and creating the impression that Vance is more interested in image than ideas.

All of this comes at a critical time when the Republican party is already losing ground with key voter demographics, including suburban women and younger voters. JD Vance’s controversial remarks, particularly about childless women, have only deepened the divide between the GOP and these crucial voting blocs. As Kamala Harris continues to rise in the polls, leading Donald Trump in key swing states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, Vance’s presence on the ticket seems more like a liability than an asset.

In the end, the focus on whether or not JD Vance wears eyeliner is emblematic of a larger problem: a campaign that is unable to focus on the issues that matter. Usha Vance’s attempts to defend her husband’s past remarks, while also addressing frivolous speculation, illustrate how the Vance campaign is struggling to find its footing. With polls showing Harris leading Trump in key battleground states, the Vance pick may be viewed in hindsight as a critical misstep for the GOP, one that alienated key voter bases and failed to address the pressing issues facing the country.