An adorable clip of Vice President Vance’s three-year-old daughter, Mirabel, handing out Thanksgiving food to active service members went viral on social media as the Second Family visited Fort Campbell in Kentucky.
Vance, his wife, Usha and their three young children traveled to the base in order to hand out meals and chat with active duty military personnel during the Thanksgiving holiday. In his remarks before dinner, the vice president urged Americans to say a prayer for the two National Guard soldiers who are fighting for their lives after they were shot in a targeted attack in downtown Washington D.C. on Wednesday night.
“I want everybody who’s a person of faith to say a prayer for those two National Guardsmen…it’s a somber reminder that soldiers…are the sword and the shield of the United States of America,” he said.
Following the speech, the Second Family assisted with handing out meals to active duty soldiers. In a viral clip, the vice president’s daughter can be seen handing out packets of butter to attendees.
“She’s insisted that you take the butter. She takes her job very seriously,” the vice president joked.
🚨 JUST IN – JD Vance’s daughter joins in on serving the troops for Thanksgiving: *Holds out the butter*
VANCE: “She’s insisted that you take the butter. She takes her job very seriously.” 🤣
Doesn’t get better than this! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/lcgyqu6MVD
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) November 26, 2025
A number of senior Trump Administration officials, including War Secretary Pete Hegseth, are spending the Thanksgiving Holiday with American troops. Hegseth and his family traveled to the Caribbean, where a large build-up has occurred amid tensions with Venezuela.
“On behalf of my wife Jenny and I, I want to wish America’s best, our warriors, a happy Thanksgiving,” Hegseth said in a video statement. Like Vance, the secretary offered prayers for the two National Guard soldiers, identified as Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Andrew Wolfe, 24, as they fight for their lives.
“We’re pulling for them, and we have their backs. And yeah, we’re prayerful, but we’re also increasing our resolve just like they are, that we will keep the Capitol safe and secure the American people,” the secretary continued. “But we really wanted to spend Thanksgiving with the troops. There’s no better way to do it. On mission down here for Southern Spear, we’re really excited to get out there and go see them.”
President Donald Trump is also scheduled to speak with active duty personnel at 6 p.m. Eastern Time.
In a five-minute address delivered Wednesday night, the president announced that 500 additional National Guard soldiers would be deployed to the nation’s capital following the attack.
“It was a crime against humanity. The hearts of all Americans tonight are with those two members of the West Virginia National Guard and their families. The love of our entire country is pouring out for them, and we are lifting them up in our prayers. As we are filled with anguish and grief for those who were shot, we’re also filled with righteous anger and ferocious resolve,” the president said.
