Ana Navarro explains why she views JD Vance as 'DEI hire' amid GOP attacks on Kamala Harris

WASHINGTON, DC: Ana Navarro, a panelist on 'The View', has criticized JD Vance as a "DEI hire," using the term to highlight what she perceives as a strategic placement rather than merit-based selection.

According to the Daily Mail, her remarks were made during an appearance on CNN 'NewsNight With Abby Phillip' on Monday. Navarro's comments echoed a trend among GOP lawmakers who have criticized Kamala Harris, the last-minute replacement for Joe Biden, as being chosen solely based on her identity.

Ana Navarro challenges JD Vance’s 'DEI Hire' critique

Ana Navarro highlighted Vance's background, prominently featured in his 2016 memoir 'Hillbilly Elegy'. Although Vance hails from Appalachian roots and rural Kentucky, he has built much of his public persona around this heritage despite spending most of his childhood in a suburban area of southwest Ohio.

His book, which was adapted into a Netflix film, helped him secure his first term as a junior senator.

"It's very funny when I hear JD Vance talk about Kamala Harris as a DEI hire," Navarro, a self-identified centrist known for her criticism of Donald Trump, remarked.

She argued that Vance's career advancements, including his book deal, TV contract, and film adaptation, were also a result of his "DEI hire" status.

"You came on and you were supposed to be the hillbilly translator which was something that was sorely lacking on national TV and in the movies," she said, challenging the notion that hiring decisions are made solely based on merit.

Ana Navarro criticizes Trump campaign's vetting of JD Vance 

Ana Navarro didn't stop at criticizing Vance's background. She expressed astonishment at the Trump campaign's vetting process, highlighting the controversies surrounding Vance, including his derogatory comments about Democratic leaders and an embarrassing scandal mentioned in his book. "I'm kind of marveling at the lack of vetting that seems to have gone on in the Trump campaign," Navarro said.

GOP members have criticized Harris, claiming her selection was driven by her racial and gender identity. For instance, Tennessee Republican Rep Tim Burchett asserted that Harris was chosen solely because of her ethnicity.

"One hundred percent she is a DEI hire," said Burchett, with other lawmakers like Rep. Harriet Hageman of Wyoming and Rep. Glenn Grothman of Wisconsin echoing similar sentiments.

Hageman referred to Harris as "intellectually, just really kind of the bottom of the barrel," while Grothman remarked that "Democrats feel they have to stick with her because of her ethnic background."

Ana Navarro slams JD Vance’s insincere apology and criticizes his views on childless women

Ana Navarro, who had previously criticized JD Vance’s comments about "cat ladies" on 'The View', condemned his apology as insincere.

"They’ve given him, JD Vance, all these opportunities to clean up his childless cat lady comment, and he hasn’t been able to," Navarro said, referring to his inadequate apology and subsequent remarks.

She further accused Vance of holding discriminatory views toward women without children, asserting that such attitudes undermine the rights of those who choose or are unable to have children.

"There are women who have no children because they are free to choose so, and there are women like me who have no children because we couldn’t. And how dare you try to tell me that I am lesser than? How dare you tell me that I have less rights and less voting rights than others?" Navarro added.

JD Vance’s complex stance on fertility legislation sparks debate among conservatives

In recent legislative actions, JD Vance voted against the Democrat-led Right to IVF Act but supported a GOP bill that seeks to protect IVF treatments by conditioning Medicaid funding.

His nuanced stance on fertility treatments has sparked debate among conservative commentators, including Ben Shapiro, who questioned Vance's suitability as Trump’s vice presidential pick. "I think we have to protect the rights of Christian hospitals to operate the way that they want to operate," Vance said, adding that such positions align with supporting fertility treatments for those in need.