JD Vance’s mother celebrates 10 years of sobriety at the White House 

CV NEWS FEED // Vice President JD Vance marked a deeply personal milestone Friday, hosting a ceremony at the White House to honor his mother, Beverly Aikins, for reaching 10 years of sobriety. 

Surrounded by family and close friends in the Roosevelt Room, Vance delivered emotional remarks, fulfilling a promise he made during the 2024 Republican National Convention to recognize his mother’s recovery at the White House.

“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 during the ceremony. “I’m gonna try not to cry here.”

A devout Catholic and vocal advocate for family and faith, Vance reflected on the significance of his mother’s journey: “I meet a lot of people who think that there is no other side for those who suffer from addiction… But for many, there is another side.”

“Sometimes you get another opportunity with your friends and your family,” he continued. “Sometimes, you get an opportunity to be a great-grandmother to your grandchildren. And sometimes, you end up celebrating your 10-year medallion ceremony a couple of months late here in the White House.”

Aikins, who once battled addiction to heroin and alcohol, now works as a resident nurse at a Cincinnati recovery center, mentoring patients through their own struggles with addiction.

“I teach the patients, and then I’m just there for them,” she said. “That is my purpose—to help people.”

Looking at her three grandchildren during the ceremony, Aikins added, “I love my family more than anything… I pray a lot more, and hopefully, God gives me several more years to watch these guys grow up. I love you all. Thank you so much for being here.”

In a 2021 interview with CatholicVote’s President Brian Burch, Vance described how his family’s struggles and resilience shaped both his personal journey and political life. 

“The American dream was this abstract thing that was interesting from the perspective of political science and sociology. But it was the story of my family,” said Vance, author of HillyBilly Elegy. 

“I thought that if I told a story about not just the problems that exist in the community, but about the people who were experiencing them — my mom, my sister, my grandma, my dad — others would actually gain an appreciation for these people as people.”

The White House’s official X account also marked the occasion with a note of support, writing, “Congrats, Bev!” 

“@VP JD Vance marked a powerful moment at the White House on Friday — celebrating his mom Bev’s 10 years of sobriety with their family. Congratulations!” the post read.

The post JD Vance’s mother celebrates 10 years of sobriety at the White House  appeared first on CatholicVote org.