As tensions between the Republicans and the Democrats continue to rise ahead of the 2024 election, Republican politicians, including VP candidate J. D. Vance, have come after Vice President Kamala Harris‘ family. According to Republican activist Laura Loomer, for example, “A woman who has no biological children of her own should not be allowed to make decisions in the White House for your children.”
Vance then continued the sexist attacks, saying the United States is being run by “a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives and the choices that they’ve made and so they want to make the rest of the country miserable too.”
But before we enter a spiral on why it’s not okay to say this about any woman, let alone when equating it to their qualifications to run a country, let’s get one thing straight: Harris is a stepmom to her husband Doug Emhoff’s kids, Cole and Ella Emhoff. “She is loving, nurturing, fiercely protective, and always present,” Ella wrote on social media to Harris’ defense. “I love our blended family and am grateful to have her in it.”
That’s exactly it, Harris’ family might not look traditional, but it’s what we like to call a modern, blended family. And guess what? There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.
After all, families can look different in any household, even a presidential one. Take a look at some other presidential families, big, small and blended, through the years below!
Portrait of Taft Family
William Howard Taft was the 27th president of the United States. He’s seen here in his signature white mustache with his wife Helen and their kids and grandkids in 1921.
Calvin Coolidge
Former President Calvin Coolidge is pictured here with First Lady Grace Coolidge and their dog at the White House in 1924. They shared two sons: Calvin Coolidge Jr. and John Coolidge.
Herbert Hoover
Former President Herbert Hoover married his wife, Lou Henry Hoover, in 1899. Throughout their marriage, they welcomed their sons, Herbert Hoover, Jr. and Allan Hoover. Pictured here are the four of them and Herbert Jr.’s wife, Margaret Eva Watson.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Former President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his wife Eleanor Roosevelt had many kids throughout their marriage. Between 1906 and 1916, Eleanor and Franklin D. Roosevelt had six children, one of whom died in infancy. Their surviving kids were Elliott, Franklin Delano Jr, John Aspinwall, Anna Eleanor, and James.
Harry Truman
Former President Harry S. Truman married his wife Bess back in 1919. Together they shared one daughter, Margaret. She went on to have four kids: Clifton, Harrison, William and Thomas.
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Former President Dwight D. Eisenhower and First Lady Mamie Eisenhower were quite a stylish dup in the White House. They shared two sons, John S. D. Eisenhower and Doud Eisenhower. Doud sadly passed away at four years old while his brother, John, continued their father’s legacy and became a dad to four kids Dwight, Barbara, Susan and Mary Jean.
John F. Kennedy
In 1953, John F. Kennedy officially began his life with Jackie Kennedy when they got married in this lavish affair. Over the years, the couple had four kids, but only two made it out of the hospital: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Caroline Kennedy.
In 1999, JFK Jr. sadly passed away in a plane crash alongside his wife Carolyn Bessette. Caroline, on the other hand, continued her family’s legacy over the years and has welcomed kids Rose, Tatiana and Jack Schlossberg with her husband, Edwin Schlossberg.
Lyndon B Johnson
In probably one of the sweetest photos on this list, former President Lyndon B Johnson had a loving family who always supported him, including in this pic at the 1960 DNC. Johnson and his wife, Lady Bird Johnson, had two daughters, Lynda and Luci. The Johnsons later became grandparents to seven grandkids.
Richard Nixon
Former President Richard Nixon had his family by his side when he said goodbye to his presidency in 1974. Nixon and his wife, former First Lady Pat Nixon had kids Patricia “Tricia” and Julie. Each of their daughters had two children each.
Gerald Ford
This picture of former President Gerald Ford and his family is as 70s as it gets.
Ford shared three sons Michael, Jack, and Steven as well as a daughter Susan with First Lady Betty Ford. They were grandparents to seven grandkids.
Jimmy Carter
Former president Jimmy Carter looked giddy in this picture as he looked over to his family during the 1976 Democratic National Convention.
Out of all the presidents on this list, Carter’s might be the biggest family. The former president and his wife Rosalynn Carter shared sons John William “Jack,” James Earl “Chip,” and Donnel Jeffrey “Jeff” as well as daughter Amy Carter. Between their four children, they had 22 grandchildren.
Ronald Reagan
In another big family portrait, this 1981 photo gives a glimpse of Ronald Reagan’s troop. With his first wife Jane Wyman, Reagan shared three kids, Maureen, born in 1941, and Christine, who passed away shortly after her birth in 1947, and Michael, who they adopted in 1945. In 1952, he married his second wife Nancy. Together, they welcomed kids Patti and Ron.
The late former President had three grandchildren.
George H. W. Bush
As you can see from this picture, the late President George H. W. Bush had quite a big family. Together with his wife Laura Bush, they were parents to kids George W., Jeb, Dorothy, Neil, Marvin and Pauline, who sadly passed away at just four years old in 1953.
In this pic, the former president is joined by them and their grandchildren during their 60th wedding anniversary in 2005. They have 17 grandkids in counting!
Bill Clinton
Former President Bill Clinton and his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, were there to support their growing family in 2016 when their daughter Chelsea and her husband Marc Mezvinsky had their second kid, Aidan. Chelsea, who’s an only daughter herself, also has kids Charlotte, born in 2014, and Jasper, born in 2019.
George W. Bush
In this photo, former President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush are seen posing with their daughters Jenna Bush and Barbara Bush at Jenna’s marriage to Henry Hager at the Bush family’s Prairie Chapel Ranch in Crawford, Texas in 2008. Barbara was her twin sister’s maid of honor. The twin sisters have since welcomed five kids, three from Jenna and two from Barbara and her husband Craig Coyne.
Barack Obama
President Barack Obama attended the national Christmas tree lighting ceremony in 2015 with his daughters Malia and Sasha, their late grandma, Marian Robinson, and first lady Michelle Obama.
Donald Trump
Donald Trump became the 45th president of the United States in January 2017 alongside his family. Holding the bible was his wife Melania Trump, alongside his kids Barron, Ivanka, Eric and Tiffany. Trump is also a dad to his eldest son, Donald Trump Jr. He also has ten grandchildren.
Joe Biden
In this sweet photo, 46th President Joe Biden shared an intimate moment with his wife Jill, his daughter Ashley and his granddaughters Finnegan, Naomi and Maisy as they watched the Independence Day fireworks in 2021.
In addition to Ashley, Biden also has sons Hunter and Beau, who died in 2015, and daughter Naomi, who died at 1 year old in 1972, who he shared with his late wife Neilia Hunter.
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