JD Vance’s cousin is dismayed to have spent three years fighting Russians in Ukraine only to see U.S. leadership become what he calls “Vladimir Putin’s useful idiots.”
Nate Vance, 47, told French newspaper Le Figaro he’s disappointed his cousin participated in a recent White House meeting where JD led a verbal attack on Volodymyr Zelenskyy that included President Trump and his surrogates making fun of the Ukrainian President’s clothes.
According to Nate Vance, when his cousin criticised U.S. providing aid to Ukraine in the past, he figured JD was playing politics.
“But what they did to Zelenskyy was an ambush of absolute bad faith,” the former Marine said.
Nate Vance said he volunteered to fight for Ukraine’s Da Vinci Wolves First Motorized Battalion after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. The Texan returned home when his first cousin became Vice President because he couldn’t risk being captured considering his newly changed connection to the White House. Le Figaro said Nate Vance has since been exploring the American west in a camper van.
Though he spoke fondly about the Vice President, Nate Vance says he is “disappointed” in reports he’s seen about his younger relative’s comments about Zelenskyy.
“His own cousin was on the front lines,” Nate Vance said. “I could have told him the truth, without pretense, without personal interest. He never tried to find out more.”
It’s his belief that President Trump and JD Vance incorrectly believe they can placate Putin. Nate Vance claimed Putin will not forget the U.S. supported Ukraine for three years and U.S. leaders saying otherwise are being exploited.
“We are Vladimir Putin’s useful idiots,” he said.
Nate Vance said he’s tried unsuccessfully to contact his cousin but hasn’t heard back.
“Just because I’m related to you doesn’t mean I’m going to stand by and watch you get my comrades killed,” he said.
JD Vance said in a 2022 interview he didn’t “really care what happens to Ukraine one way or another.”