US Vice President JD Vance has thanked law enforcement authorities in Ohio after an individual was arrested for attempting to break into his Cincinnati home overnight using a hammer.
In a statement shared on X on Monday, January 5, 2025, Vance said the incident occurred in the early hours of the morning and praised the swift response by the US Secret Service and the Cincinnati Police Department. He confirmed that he had returned to Washington, DC, the previous day.
“I appreciate everyone’s well-wishes about the attack at our home,” Vance wrote. “As far as I can tell, a crazy person tried to break in by hammering the windows. I’m grateful to the Secret Service and the Cincinnati police for responding quickly.”
The US Secret Service confirmed that one adult male was taken into custody shortly after midnight for causing property damage at a residence associated with the vice president. According to the agency, the suspect broke several exterior windows and also vandalised a Secret Service vehicle while approaching the property.
“The US Secret Service is coordinating with the Cincinnati Police Department and the US Attorney’s Office as charging decisions are reviewed,” spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said.
Local broadcaster WLWT reported that Vance had spent the previous week at the Ohio River–overlooking home in the East Walnut Hills neighbourhood before departing on Sunday afternoon. The station published images showing damage to multiple ground-floor window panes. Law enforcement personnel reportedly remained at the scene for several hours following the incident.
According to unnamed law enforcement sources cited by the Associated Press, Secret Service agents heard a loud noise around midnight and discovered a man attempting to gain entry after smashing a window with a hammer.
While Vice President Vance receives round-the-clock personal protection, the level of security at his private residence varies depending on his travel schedule.
In his statement, Vance also criticised media coverage of the incident, urging restraint out of concern for his family’s privacy. He said he was sceptical of the public value of publishing images of damage to his home, noting efforts to shield his children from the harsher realities of public life.
The incident comes amid heightened security concerns for public officials in the United States. In recent months, several high-profile attacks have prompted politicians to review safety measures, including the June 2025 killing of Minnesota state legislator Melissa Hortman and her husband, and the October 2024 hammer attack on Paul Pelosi, husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
