On Monday, the White House publicly acknowledged JD Vance‘s mother, Beverly Vance, for having reached a milestone in her life—a decade of sobriety. This act didn’t just touch the Vance family; it also triggered an assortment of reactions from various political camps. Some welcomed the gesture, but it also resulted in a broad debate regarding how Donald Trump has frequently handled similar scenarios.
In particular, most were quick to equate this with his previous statements regarding Hunter Biden’s path of addiction recovery. While the good intention behind recognizing Beverly’s resilience was appreciated, the contrast brought out what some perceive as a double standard in Trump’s handling of individuals who are confronted with these issues.
In a personal note on the White House X (formerly Twitter) platform, the administration extended their sincere congratulations to JD Vance for reaching an important milestone. It was a moment of joy as they celebrated Bev, JD’s mom, for attaining a remarkable 10 years of sobriety.
💙@VP JD Vance marked a powerful moment at the White House on Friday — celebrating his mom Bev’s 10 years of sobriety with their family. Congratulations! 🎉 pic.twitter.com/KgXHlEcjE2
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 7, 2025
This achievement was even greater, particularly in terms of the struggles she had with opioid addiction. These struggles were publicly exposed in JD Vance’s best-selling memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy.”
The memoir discusses the struggles of their family, such as their dependence on food stamps and other welfare programs. It is a beautiful scene that depicts the human spirit to crush goals and the need to overcome these ordeals.
JD Vance has frequently spoken about his mother’s history of requiring assistance with food. He said it at a 2023 campaign event, stating, “My mother required food assistance for periods of her life… because she struggled with addiction for a big chunk of my early life.”
But when the White House put something out on this, and Donald Trump agreed with it, everyone thought it was not very honest. And it’s because Trump was always so tough on Hunter Biden, who also had addiction and legal problems. Even though Hunter has worked to get better, Trump has called the investigation into him “a traffic ticket instead of a death sentence” and even took back the pardon that former President Joe Biden gave him.
People on the internet had a lot to say about it. One person wrote, “Good thing her name isn’t Hunter because then sobriety is illegitimate and worthy of scorn.” Someone else added, “Very different reception for an addict when it’s not Hunter Biden.”
The contrast between President Trump’s approval of Beverly Vance and his harsh criticism of Hunter Biden didn’t go unnoticed by political analysts. It seems that when it’s Joe Biden’s son who’s dealing with addiction, Trump tends to express his feelings in a much more negative way, as also noted by the Irish Star.
Adding fuel to the controversy, Trump faced criticism this week for his relaxed golf outings during a tumultuous period in the stock market. Jesse Watters, a usual supporter of Trump on Fox News, took an unexpected jab at the former president during the show “The Five.”
With a revealing smile, Watters said, “If Biden was golfing during a stock market like this… I’m sure I wouldn’t say a word.”
Fox News’ Jesse Watters:
“If Biden was golfing during a stock market like this I’m sure I wouldn’t say a word… Now I’m not panicking Dana because I’m not looking. I haven’t looked at my bank account. I’m afraid.” pic.twitter.com/Ks4BqWWPkz
— Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) April 7, 2025
The audience on the internet was quick to spot the irony, with one user, @RobertC43556505, posting, “That smile at the end gave it away. He knows he would be going mental.”
This moment, ranging from Beverly Vance’s noteworthy achievement to President Donald Trump’s shifting views on addiction, stresses a larger pattern that critics argue is a typical flair of his: showing compassion only when it aligns with his political goals.
