In the mafia-like world of the White House where loyalty tests are routine and macho threats the norm, JD Vance might have hoped for omertà from his actual family. Instead, both the vice president and the president himself find themselves described by one of JD’s close relatives as “useful idiots” serving Vladimir Putin.

JD Vance has broken his silence after an ex-Marine cousin, Nate Vance, issued a blistering criticism of the vice president’s treatment of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in an Oval Office meeting earlier this month.

Nate Vance slammed his cousin JD Vance on Monday over the vice president leaning into pro-Russia talking points during an Oval Office clash with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.