Jamel Bouie Critiques Vice President J.D. Vance

In a recent post on Blue Sky, journalist Jamel Bouie sparked controversy by suggesting that Vice President J.D. Vance’s mother was justified in her attempts to sell him for drugs.

Bouie’s remarks came in response to Vance’s refusal to apologize to the family of Alex Preti, a victim of a shooting in Minnesota. Vance had made claims about Preti’s involvement in immigration protests, characterizing it as driven by “malice.” Bouie sharply criticized Vance, calling him an “evil man who knows he’s evil and does it anyway.”

Bouie also noted Vance’s demeanor, stating, “That little ‘Isn’t it stinky?’ laugh is beneath contempt.”

In addition, Bouie remarked on comments labeling Vance as “arrogant,” pondering, “No wonder his mother tried to sell him to Percocets.” He went on to express that he could hardly imagine any parent not considering such an option under the circumstances.

He added, “One of the ironies of Vance’s life is that he’s also an addict. He’s addicted to power, and he’s obviously willing to sell anything to get it.”

Fox News Digital reached out for reactions from the New York Times and Vance’s office.

Throughout various speeches, Vance has often discussed his mother, Beverly Akins, and her struggles with addiction during his childhood. Her addiction began with prescribed medications and later escalated to theft of drugs from patients, as highlighted in his memoir “Hillbilly Elegy.”

In the book, Vance shared his journey toward recovery and acknowledged, “I knew that a mother could love her son even in the midst of addiction.” He reflected on the love from his family, despite their struggles.

Most recently, in April 2025, Vance celebrated his mother achieving a decade of sobriety at a White House event.

Akins now works at Seacrest Recovery Center as a nurse, according to its website.