When J.D. Vance, his wife, Usha, and their three young children move into the Naval Observatory mansion on January 20, they enter the white Queen Anne-style mansion that has been home to the vice president since the 1970s. This will be the first time.
Vice President Kamala Harris has not invited any formal sit-ins or tours, multiple Democratic and Republican officials told CBS News.
In November, Usha Vance, through an intermediary, contacted the staff of the home’s current residents, Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, asking for details, including childproofing requirements. . Ewan, Vivec and Mirabel Vance are all under the age of eight.
The question was initially rejected by Harris’ political appointees. But since then, there have been communications between Vance’s team and the Navy aide who oversees the mansion.
Navy officials briefed the Vances before Christmas to discuss the layout, logistics and practicalities of moving in, as well as to answer the Vances’ questions, according to a person familiar with the call.
Usha Vance spoke with Emhoff for about 40 minutes last week, the people said. Harris officials say preparations are underway to accommodate Vance’s children.
Spokespeople for Vance and Harris declined to comment.
But people close to Harris say she was never given the opportunity to visit her home until she took office in 2021. COVID outbreakImmediately after Capitol riot And Donald Trump refused to admit he lost the election.
Advisors to then-Vice President Mike Pence dispute that an invitation was never provided. During the waning days of the Trump administration, he reportedly secretly offered visits to Harris and Emhoff. The invitation was made with caution as President Trump resisted appeasement with the incoming administration.
According to Democratic and Republican officials, there was never a formal sit-in between Mr. Pence and Ms. Harris.
Those close to Ms. Harris defended her decision not to invite Mr. Vance for the visit, a tradition that was broken during the Trump-Pence administration. Mr. Harris’ team was able to deal with canceled international trips and california wildfires.
In 2016, shortly after the election, then-Vice President Biden and his wife Jill hosted Mr. and Mrs. Pence at their official residence in northwest Washington.
“I really appreciate the vice president and second lady’s hospitality today,” Pence said at the time.
Harris Because the house needed repairs, he did not move into his Naval Observatory residence until April 2021, about three months after he was sworn into office.
more