Former US President John F. Kennedy’s grandson, Jack Schlossberg, has found himself at the center of controversy this week following a series of offensive social media posts, culminating in an inappropriate joke involving Vice President J.D. Vance’s wife, Usha Vance.

The uproar began on April 6, 2025, when Schlossberg announced on X (formerly Twitter), “I’m having a son!!” expressing his excitement about the impending birth of his child, which he noted would be born out of wedlock. He added, “Today was the happiest day of my life, and I am eagerly awaiting the birth of my next child. Yes, out of wedlock. However, we might end up getting married.”

He later shared the same message on Instagram, revealing the name of his son, “Jason Schlossberg! 5 pounds, 0 ounces. April 6, 2025.”

The situation escalated when Schlossberg posted a photoshopped image of Usha Vance holding a baby, with his own adult face partially covering the child’s head. The caption read, “Little Jason and his mom. You never feel prepared to have children. Until you become one one day.” This post drew significant backlash, with many users criticizing the insensitivity of the joke.

In response to the growing criticism, People magazine published a side-by-side collage of Schlossberg and the Vance family, prompting him to repost a screenshot of the coverage with the caption, “The joke is that I’m capable of producing a male heir.”

The backlash was swift, with social media users expressing their disapproval. Comments included, “You’re an embarrassment,” and “What a troll, his grandfather would be ashamed….” One user even advised him to “Delete this, and get help.”

This incident marked the most significant backlash Schlossberg has faced, but it wasn’t the first time he had made provocative references to the Vance family. Earlier, he had tweeted on January 20, 2025, “True or false: Usha Vance is way hotter than Jackie O,” referencing his own grandmother, former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. The following day, he tweeted, “I’m a literal pervert. Have I completely lost my mind after calling my grandmother ‘hot’?” He continued to express his desire for attention, stating, “This child will stop at nothing to get attention, Jesus. Your grandfather would feel embarrassed. Really. It’s time to find employment.”

In early March, Schlossberg shared another photoshopped image of Usha Vance kissing his cheek, captioned, “My love, my sweet Ushie.”

In a televised interview with MSNBC host Jen Psaki, Schlossberg discussed his online behavior and the rationale behind his provocative posts. He admitted to intentionally provoking responses, saying, “It’s hard to make an impression on the internet, particularly if you’re not making a controversial or at least unexpected statement.”

He explained, “I make posts that I think are funny or silly but have a purpose—either to make you think, ‘This guy’s crazy.’” He acknowledged that generating outrage and engagement was part of the strategy, stating, “To be honest, then you get all these retweets, quotes, and everybody flips out about it—and I think that’s kind of the game that the other side’s been playing really well.”

When asked about his favorite targets for trolling, Schlossberg mentioned Vice President J.D. Vance and his cousin, RFK Jr., saying, “The hey J.D. videos did pretty good online. However, I believe that my cousin RFK Jr. poses a threat.”

As the controversy continues to unfold, many are left questioning the appropriateness of Schlossberg’s actions and the impact of social media on public discourse.