Vice President JD Vance’s penchant for globe-trotting has landed him in the center of a political and public relations storm, as critics and commentators alike question the optics and priorities of the man once hailed as a champion of the working class. Since taking office in January 2025, Vance has managed to rack up an impressive eight vacations in just seven months—a tally that outpaces not only most Americans, but also his recent predecessors in the White House.
His latest escapade? A summer holiday in the Cotswolds, a picturesque region of England often dubbed the "Hamptons of the UK" or, as Democratic strategist James Carville put it, the "Martha’s Vineyard of England." According to News Nation contributor Lindsey Granger, Vance rented a sprawling manor that set him back around $10,000 per week. The vice president’s motorcade reportedly clogged the narrow country lanes, and protests trailed him across the pond, ensuring that his family getaway generated more headlines than relaxation.
But this was hardly an isolated incident. In fact, Vance’s travel log reads like the bucket list of a jet-setter: Italy, India, Nantucket, Disneyland, Vermont, and even Greenland. Some of these trips were labeled "official business," which meant the costs were footed by taxpayers. Take, for instance, the March 2025 Greenland trip, when Vance and the second lady flew out during the height of President Donald Trump’s renewed interest in the territory. The visit, however, was so poorly received by Greenland’s government that what was supposed to be a multi-day diplomatic engagement was slashed to a mere three-hour photo op.
Other vacations have drawn scrutiny for their extravagance. There was the Disneyland trip, which saw the theme park closed off for the vice president’s family. A $2,500 Michelin-starred dinner in San Diego stands out for its opulence, as does Vance’s birthday kayak trip—where, in a move that raised more than a few eyebrows, the military reportedly raised the level of an Ohio river to smooth out his paddling conditions. As Granger quipped, "That’s not just elite — that’s emperor-level."
All this comes at a time when many Americans are feeling the pinch. Rising prices for groceries, health care, and gas have left families struggling to make ends meet, with the so-called "big beautiful bill"—the Trump administration’s signature tax and aid-cutting legislation—tightening belts even further. Vance, in a recent visit to Georgia, defended the law by claiming it delivered tax cuts to the working class. Yet, as James Carville pointed out on his "Politics War Room" podcast, the reality appears quite different for most Americans. Carville didn’t mince words, calling the legislation "the most unpopular piece of legislation in recent times." He urged Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff, who voted against the bill, to own his opposition proudly, saying, "When you get a gift, take the goddamn gift!"
Carville also seized on the opportunity to contrast Vance’s British holiday with the struggles of American tourism. "Why didn’t the tourist association of the Florida Panhandle blow this up? The Las Vegas people, the California people, the Wyoming people. You mean you can’t vacation — and your wife and kids — in his own country?" he asked, incredulous. Carville, for his part, noted he was soon heading to Lake George, New York, and suggested that "people in Upstate New York would have been glad to have his money but what does he do? He goes to a tony English Village."
It’s not just Democratic strategists or left-leaning commentators who are taking notice. The frequency and lavishness of Vance’s vacations have become fodder for both sides of the aisle, with critics arguing that the vice president’s lifestyle is out of step with the realities facing everyday Americans. As Granger observed, "Most Americans can’t even get two consecutive weeks approved without begging their boss. Yet the sitting vice president has managed to disappear almost every month since taking office." For context, she pointed out, "Mike Pence barely took personal trips in his first six months. Kamala Harris didn’t take a single personal vacation in hers."
The contrast is particularly stark given Vance’s own political brand. He built his reputation railing against the "elites," positioning himself as a voice for working-class voters disillusioned with out-of-touch politicians. Now, as he jets from one luxury destination to another, that image is taking a beating. "When you’re the right-hand man to Donald Trump, the guy who wants to convince working-class America that he’s their champion, jet-setting across the globe on lavish retreats doesn’t scream solidarity. It screams out-of-touch," Granger said in her commentary for The Hill’s "Rising."
To make matters worse, some of Vance’s trips have been marked by controversy and poor planning. The Greenland fiasco, for example, not only wasted taxpayer money but also embarrassed the administration internationally. The trip was supposed to last several days and include meetings with local officials, but due to a chilly reception, it was wrapped up in just three hours. The only tangible outcome? A handful of Instagram-ready photos of Vance and his wife in the snow.
Back home, the optics are proving difficult to manage. With headlines highlighting Vance’s absence from Washington and his growing list of luxury getaways, the vice president’s team faces mounting pressure to justify both the frequency and the cost of his travels. The criticism is not just about the number of vacations, but the message it sends: while Americans are being asked to "do more with less," their vice president appears to be "doing less with more."
Carville, ever the strategist, sees an opportunity for Democrats. He’s urging party members to keep the spotlight on Vance’s travel habits and to "kick the shit out of him every chance you get." He argues that Vance’s actions offer a clear contrast with the struggles of ordinary Americans and that Democrats should use this to frame the debate in the upcoming midterms.
For now, though, Vance remains unapologetic, continuing to defend both his legislative record and his personal choices. But with the cost of living rising and patience wearing thin, the vice president’s vacations may prove to be more than just a personal indulgence—they could become a defining issue in the battle for public opinion.
As the political season heats up, all eyes will be on whether Vance chooses to change course—or simply book his next flight out of town.
