JD Vance Honors His Mother’s 10-Year Sobriety in White House Ceremony
United States Vice President JD Vance celebrated his mother's 10-year anniversary of sobriety in a special celebration at the White House on Friday.
"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," Vance wrote on X.
"Mom, I am so proud of you."
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.
— Vice President JD Vance (@VP) April 7, 2025
Mom, I am so proud of you. pic.twitter.com/aGIKebEPYb
According to a press statement from the vice president's office, Vance and his mother, Beverly Aikins, gathered with friends and family in the Roosevelt Room across from the Oval Office for the event when she was given a 10-year medallion, The Christian Post reported.
Salena Zito, a reporter for The Washington Examiner, who attended the celebration, noted that the ceremony became emotional at times.
"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," Vance said, adding, "I'm gonna try not to cry here."
Vance reportedly choked up when he recalled how he had worried that his drug-addicted mother would never get the opportunity to meet his own children. He also detailed the hardships of growing up with his mother in his popular 2016 memoir, Hillbilly Elegy.
"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," he said. "And now here they are, almost 8, 5, and 3, and you're the best grandmother that these kids could ever ask for.
"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," he added.
Aikens, who works as a nurse at an addiction recovery center in the Cincinnati area, previously struggled with alcohol and heroin before getting clean. According to a press release from Vance's office, she encourages those battling addiction "to reach out, to try to get help, and that recovery is hard, but it's so worth it."
During his speech at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee last year, Vance suggested that there would be a celebration at the White House in light of his mother's milestone.
"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."
During his Convention speech, JD Vance promised his mom a celebration in the White House to mark 10 years of sobriety.
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) April 6, 2025
The Vice President and his mom Bev just celebrated her achievement together in the Roosevelt Room.
Promises made, promises kept ... by both mother and son.… https://t.co/C2dggqCaZA pic.twitter.com/BlfDGYyrI1
Photo Credit: ©X/VP
Originally published April 08, 2025.
