In a viral social media post, Vice President JD Vance announced that he had celebrated his mother’s 10th year of sobriety with a heartwarming ceremony in the Roosevelt Room across from the Oval Office. Vance had previously promised his mother to celebrate her milestone with a special ceremony while on the campaign trail during the 2024 election.
For context, this celebration is a profoundly significant milestone for Beverly Aikins as well as her son, whose childhood was deeply shaped by his mother’s addiction. Hillbilly Elegy, Vance’s 2016 memior, details how his mother’s substance abuse played a significant role challenging upbringing in a working-class family in rural Ohio.
Such was shown in the vice president’s social media post. He wrote, “This year marks my mom’s 10th year of sobriety, and I’m grateful that we were able to celebrate in the White House with our family. Mom, I am so proud of you.”
Building on that point, Vance gave a brief speech during the ceremony, congratulating his mother on her progress. He said, “Well, here we are. And you made it, and we made it. And most importantly, you’re celebrating a very, very big milestone. And I’m just very proud of you. I’m gonna try not to cry here.”
Relating her struggle to his own decision to be a father, Vance expressed his gratitude. The VP added, “When I think about everything you’ve accomplished over the last 10 years and the fact that when I was thinking about becoming a father, I didn’t know whether you would live long enough to have a relationship with my kids, and now here they are, almost 8, 5, and 3, and you’re the best grandmother that these kids could ever ask for.”
Concluding his remarks, Vance spoke about the loving relationship between his children and their grandmother. Vance orated, “It is really an amazing thing to watch. It is one of the great blessings of becoming a father, is that I’ve been able to see these kids develop the love and the affection for you and to see it in return. And that’s just an incredible blessing.”
See Vance’s touching post here:
This year marks my mom’s 10th year of sobriety, and I’m grateful that we were able to celebrate in the White House with our family.
Mom, I am so proud of you. pic.twitter.com/aGIKebEPYb
— Vice President JD Vance (@VP) April 7, 2025
Earlier, while on the campaign trail, Vance promised his mother that he would celebrate her sobriety in the while house. Then-candidate Vance said, “I’m proud to say that tonight my mom is here, 10 years clean and sober,” Vance said at the time. “I love you, Mom. And, you know, Mom, I was thinking. It’ll be 10 years officially in January of 2025, and if President Trump’s OK with it, let’s have the celebration in the White House.”
Conservatives rallied to Vance’s post to congratulate the VP. One of the comments said, “Congrats to your Mom, JD! God bless! 🙏🏻” Another reply noted, “This is what Americans want to see in our White House! Stories of strength, courage and redemption. People who rose above, to lead us with determination, not just some person who was born into a powerful family and placed into power. We love this for you and for us!”
Featured image from embedded post