In a world increasingly dominated by woke agendas, JD Vance’s sharp criticism of CBS News for targeting his family over DEI differences exemplifies the deep divide.
At a Glance
- JD Vance criticized CBS News for targeting his mother-in-law on DEI issues.
- CBS contrasted Vance’s and Trump’s anti-DEI actions with Chilukuri’s efforts.
- Chilukuri portrayed as a strong DEI advocate at UC San Diego.
- Vance defended his family ties while denouncing CBS’s tactics.
Vance Challenges CBS’s Narrative
JD Vance voiced frustration with CBS News for spotlighting his mother-in-law, Lakshmi Chilukuri, in an article that seemed more intent on targeting his family than providing an objective perspective on DEI policies. The story highlighted Chilukuri’s role in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives at the University of California San Diego, a stark contrast to Vance and the Trump administration’s active push against such practices.
🇺🇸 JD VANCE SLAMS CBS FOR TARGETING FAMILY IN DEI ATTACK
Vance blasted CBS News for highlighting his mother-in-law’s DEI work at UC San Diego in an apparent attempt to target him and Trump over their anti-DEI policies.@JDVance:
"I don't like DEI, and I'm proud of what our… https://t.co/55CBoBSlaP pic.twitter.com/SgzR2U0aVA
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) March 13, 2025
Vance, an outspoken critic of DEI, expressed his displeasure with what he saw as unethical journalism. He claimed the CBS article was more about undermining Trump’s efforts than genuinely exploring DEI debates. Highlighting his affection for Chilukuri even amidst conflicting viewpoints, Vance emphasized, “If she doesn’t share my views on DEI I suppose I’ll have to do what 99 percent of Americans do…get over it.” The journalist’s intention, according to Vance, was clear: to use family ties as a weapon against Trump’s policies.
CBS’s DEI Focus Raises Questions
The CBS article prominently featured Chilukuri’s endeavors in DEI, portraying her as a dedicated advocate for these initiatives. She created a course on race, ethnicity, and gender and actively participated on a diversity committee. These efforts were contrasted sharply with stories about Trump’s administration’s executive orders aimed at removing DEI from federal institutions. CBS seemed to position Chilukuri’s work as an implicit critique against Vance and Trump.
“This story exists because CBS has decided that harassing my mother-in-law is a reasonable price in order to attack President Trump.” – JD Vance
Vance pointed out the hypocritical stance of CBS, noting that even their parent company, Paramount, has rolled back its DEI initiatives since Trump’s presidency. Such contradictions reflect larger societal divisions, where media sometimes appear to manipulate personal or familial connections for broader political narratives.
Broader Battle Against DEI
At its core, this incident signals a broader clash over DEI policies in various sectors, particularly under the current administration. Trump’s actions to curtail DEI, juxtaposed with CBS’s narrative, highlight the ongoing ideological war regarding meritocratic ideals in America. The administration argues for a return to traditional practices, holding that DEI disrupts the foundation of merit-based systems.
“Many corporations have followed suit, including CBS News’ parent company Paramount, which in late February ceased using hiring goals related to race, ethnicity, sex or gender, among other policy changes related to DEI.” – Graham Kates and Daniel Klaidman
This ongoing discourse demands careful consideration. As Vance and Trump rally against what they view as unnecessary DEI interference, media narratives, such as those by CBS, raise questions. Are these portrayals seeking genuine understanding or simply trying to challenge the administration? It’s moments like these that underline the importance of discerning biases behind storytelling.
