Security Was Lifted. Hours Later, the Vice President’s Home Was Hit.
In the early hours of 5 January 2026, someone smashed the windows of Vice President JD Vance’s house in Cincinnati, Ohio. Thankfully, nobody was hurt—the Vice President and his family were in Washington, D.C. at the time. But here’s the part that should make us stop and think: this happened only hours after security around the property was removed.
A Timeline That Raises Questions
For more than a week, from 29 December 2025 until 4 January 2026, the home was under tight protection. Roads were closed, checkpoints were in place, and the Secret Service kept watch. Then, on 4 January, those measures were lifted. The barriers came down, the patrols ended, and the extra eyes disappeared.
Within hours, someone was at the door, breaking windows.
The suspect—a man whose name has not been released—was spotted by Secret Service agents still keeping an eye on the area. He was arrested by Cincinnati Police shortly after midnight. Investigators are now trying to work out whether this was a political act or simply vandalism. But in truth, the motive matters less than the timing.
What This Incident Shows
This isn’t just about one politician’s house. It’s about the way we treat security as something that can be switched on and off like a light. It’s about the false belief that once an official visit ends, the danger disappears.
It doesn’t.
Public figures—whether you agree with them or not—remain targets long after they leave town. Their homes, families, and neighbours are still exposed. Yet time and again, we see protections scaled back the moment it feels “convenient” or “cost-effective.” And time and again, something goes wrong.
The Risk of Cutting Corners
People living in East Walnut Hills are now uneasy. They’re asking: if the Vice President’s home can be attacked so easily, what does that mean for their own safety? If security can be withdrawn overnight, who is really being protected?
These are fair questions. Because when checkpoints vanish and patrols are reduced, it sends a clear signal: the guard is down.
And someone was watching.
A Lesson We Keep Forgetting
This isn’t the first time, and it won’t be the last. Every time security is pulled back too soon, every time someone decides the risk has passed, we gamble. Sometimes nothing happens. Sometimes something does.
JD Vance and his family are safe—that’s what matters most. But the broken windows are a warning. They remind us that protection isn’t something you can pack away the moment the spotlight fades.
Security isn’t theatre. It’s not about looking tough while cameras are rolling and then quietly stepping back once they’re gone.
It’s about vigilance. It’s about planning. It’s about recognising that public figures—whether you support them or not—need steady protection, not just when it suits politics or budgets.
The Bottom Line
This attack should make us ask hard questions:
- Why was security lifted so quickly?
- Who decided the threat had passed?
- What measures are in place to stop this happening again—not just to the Vice President, but to anyone in public life?
Because here’s the truth: if we can’t protect a Vice President’s home for more than a few hours after barriers are removed, what does that say about our priorities?
This isn’t about left or right. It’s about doing the basics properly. It’s about not cutting corners when safety is at stake.
Windows can be replaced. Lessons shouldn’t need repeating.