Move aside Hunter Biden. A new wave of presidential relatives are stealing the show. And this time, it’s got nothing to do with cocaine and laptops.

Since President Donald Trump’s Inauguration, appearances of extended members of the first and second families have been plentiful as well as entertaining. From Trump’s adult children and their young kids to Vice President J.D. and second lady Usha Vance’s three young children, family values are back in the White House in a capacity America hasn’t seen since JFK’s presidency in the 1960s.

These kids’ presence keeps our political leaders real, honest, and humble. Beyond their objective adorableness, they serve as reminders to America’s leaders of the opportunities they have to promote family values with the policies they create.

The Vance family, perhaps the most “normal” family of the administration — with no divorce or parental separation to mar family dynamics — are also one of the most entertaining in American politics today.

Picture any American family’s summer road trip: the whole gang spilling out of a minivan wearing slides and pajama pants. The Vance family painted a slightly more elegant version of this image emerging from Air Force Two in Paris last month, as the boys’ designer pea coats left enough room between their knees and ankles to reveal their patterned pajama pants.

Later on the trip as the family toured the newly-restored Notre Dame cathedral, the Vances did what they could to keep their kids engaged in the visit, but their attempt to instill an admiration for the beauty of the cathedral in their children fell flat. In their effort, the Vances were examples of average, well-meaning parents, who for centuries have dragged their kids to various old buildings to admire their architecture and point out the different kinds of columns featured (are they Ionic? Dorian? Corinthian?), in an effort to give them a cultural experience. 

While they could easily have hired a nanny for the weekend and left the kids at home, the Vances instead chose to make a family trip out of it. The Vance family outings show the American public they’re just like any other family, while allowing their children a semi-normal childhood. 

In an interview with Ted Cruz on his show “Verdict with Ted Cruz,” hosted live at CPAC last month, Vance touted the Trump administration’s stance on families and said his own young children, coupled with his Christian faith, influence the policy decisions he makes.

“We’ve got to persuade our fellow citizens to stop thinking about babies as inconveniences to be discarded,” Vance said. “We’ve got to start thinking of them as blessings to cherish, and that’s exactly what I promised to do. I’m blessed to have a 7-year-old, a 5-year-old, and a 3-year-old, and I can’t help but see the country through their eyes.”

While not an official member of the Trump or Vance family, Elon Musk’s 4-year-old son X Æ A-12, or X, has been a prominent figure in and around the White House since Trump took office, first making waves at a Feb. 11 Oval Office meeting with Trump and Musk. Since then, X has made several public appearances with Trump and Musk, including when Trump bought a Model S Tesla, and boarded Marine One with Trump earlier this month.

Musk’s morals concerning his children are hardly orthodox and are concerning for both his kids and the mothers of his children left to raise their kids without a father. While Musk should be as present in his other kids’ lives as he is in X’s, he at least devotes his time and money to something valuable — namely, the efficiency of the government — when he could have chosen to retreat to any of his mansions or spend his time and money on other initiatives. 

As far as X is concerned, the child’s presence humanizes Trump and Musk, showing they’re just like everyday American parents and grandparents with people who depend on their decisions in office today for a better America in the future.

Likewise, the decision of different Trumps to bring their children into the public eye signals to the American people family unity is something these families treasure, and they should too. 

From 7-year-old Luke Trump’s command to “vote for Grandpa” to his 5-year-old sister Carolina proclaiming “make American great again,” at a rally in North Carolina last September, Trump’s youngest grandkids saw a lot of the campaign trail. While Luke and Carolina’s stage time was limited during Trump’s campaign, they were constantly there behind-the-scenes with their involved parents, and had front-row seats to Trump’s inauguration.

The presence of kids early on in this administration is not simply an amusement for the American people. Rather, it should be a reminder to leaders in the administration they have promises to the American people to uphold, including that of a more affordable economy and better education options. 

“We believe, in the Trump administration, that babies are good, that families are good, and we want to make it easier for young moms and young dads to choose life, to start families, and to bring new life into the world. That’s the whole point of our policy,” Vance said on “Verdict with Ted Cruz.”

Bringing their kids and grandkids to political functions is one way members of the Trump administration are displaying their commitment to these pro-family policies to the American people. Viral videos of the kids’ shenanigans are a bonus.

 

Tayte Christensen is a junior studying history.