When Donald Trump announced J.D. Vance as his running mate in the 2024 election, the Ohio senator was immediately met with criticism for his past controversial comments and moments.

One such incident that resurfaced was a photo of Vance wearing a shirt depicting the U.S.S.R. flag, which circulated on social media in July. Critics called out Vance for donning the communist symbol, although some defended him by explaining that it was only part of a Halloween party.

Another controversial moment that came back to haunt Vance was his 2021 “childless cat ladies” comments during an interview with Tucker Carlson on Fox News. In the interview, he used the derogatory term to describe women without biological children, including Kamala Harris, insinuating that the government was being led by individuals who were unhappy with their own lives and choices.

Celebrities like Whoopi Goldberg and Jennifer Aniston were quick to criticize Vance for his remarks. However, when he appeared on The Megyn Kelly Show podcast, Vance defended himself by claiming that his comment was sarcastic and that he meant no harm towards cat owners.

Vance also shifted blame onto social media for focusing on the sarcasm of his remarks rather than the substance of what he was trying to convey.

Aside from these incidents, Vance’s controversial comments also extend to his suggestion of giving people with children more voting rights and his stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict.