Latest news with #UshaVance
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Usha Vance's new life in Trump's Washington
She has settled her three children into new schools, set up play dates and overseen the childproofing of her 9,000-square-foot home. She takes the children to the second lady's office overlooking the Washington Monument, attends Mass with her family in the Virginia suburbs and hikes on wooded trails around Washington, the Secret Service in tow. She has a warm relationship with the president of the United States, who marvels over her academic credentials and tells her she is beautiful, a senior administration official said. She gets along with Melania Trump, the first lady, too. Less than a year ago, Usha Vance, onetime Democrat and the daughter of immigrants, was living a radically different life as a litigator for a progressive law firm while raising her children in Ohio. Many old friends are bewildered by her transformation. She may be the wife of the vice president, they say, but she must be appalled by the Trump administration's attacks on academia, law firms, judges, diversity programs and immigrants. Others say she likes the respite from her legal career and the glamour and influence of her new role. (Vance, who clerked for Chief Justice John Roberts and was a top editor on The Yale Law Journal, referred to herself at a recent public appearance as a 'former lawyer.') She always supported her husband's ambitions, they note, even if she did not necessarily share them. People close to the vice president, who went from being a vocal critic of now-President Donald Trump to his running mate, argue that Vance went on a similar but less public journey that soured her on the left. Either way, colleagues say, she is a model, at least for now, of a movement embraced by the White House and pushed by her husband that encourages women to have more children and celebrate the family as the centerpiece of American life. 'I think she's doing a great job as second lady of the United States,' Vice President JD Vance said in March in Bay City, Michigan, with Usha Vance standing behind him. 'And here's the thing: Because the cameras are all on, anything that I say, no matter how crazy, Usha has to smile and laugh and celebrate it.' Online critics slammed the vice president for sexism. But those who know the couple say that no matter her silence in public, JD Vance leans on his wife's counsel in private. 'Her influence on her husband is incalculable,' said the senior Trump administration official, who has worked with Usha Vance on and off for the past year and asked not to be named in order to speak freely. The official described the second lady as someone who has 'well considered' opinions on marriage, politics and faith, but holds herself at reserve. If Vance, 39, is not happy with all aspects of the Trump White House, friends say she would never let on. 'Her history and her upbringing suggest it,' the administration official said, 'but she's married to JD, and at some point you have to accept it.' The Vances have babysitters but no live-in nanny, and JD Vance leaves the West Wing many early evenings to have dinner with his family and help put the children to bed. The Vances have also taken their three children, now 8, 5 and 3, on official international trips, including to Good Friday services at the Vatican and to dinner in New Delhi with the prime minister of India. Vance declined to be interviewed for this article, as did a large number of relatives, friends and colleagues. More than a dozen who did offer their perspectives did so on the condition of anonymity out of fear of angering her. Only recently has she tiptoed out on her own and offered a glimpse of herself and the purpose she sees in her new role. On June 1, she announced on social platform X the 'Second Lady's 2025 Summer Reading Challenge' for children, driven by her view that reading is an antidote to modern distractions, including her own. From the start, back when they first met at Yale Law School, Usha Vance has been her husband's guide to the elite and a cool salve for his hot temper. One friend of the couple said he would not be vice president without her. 'I'm one of those guys who really benefits from having sort of a powerful female voice over his left shoulder saying, 'Don't do that, do that,'' JD Vance told Megyn Kelly in 2020. For a long time it was his grandmother, Mamaw. 'Now it's Usha,' he said. Unlike JD Vance, whose roots are in a dysfunctional family of the white underclass captured in his bestselling memoir, 'Hillbilly Elegy,' Usha Vance is the eldest of two daughters of accomplished Indian immigrants, Krish and Lakshmi Chilukuri. They arrived in California in the early 1980s. The Chilukuris settled in Rancho Peñasquitos, a planned San Diego neighborhood, where their home today is worth $1.4 million. Vance's father, Krish, worked as an aerospace engineer at United Technologies and Collins Aerospace for 30 years and is now a lecturer at San Diego State. Lakshmi, Vance's mother, is a molecular biologist and the provost of Sixth College, an undergraduate school at the University of California, San Diego. Vance blazed her way through the local Mount Carmel High School, Yale College, a teaching fellowship in China and a prestigious Gates Foundation scholarship at the University of Cambridge in Britain. She wrote in the Gates scholars' yearbook that her interests were 'exploring urban neighborhoods, cooking & green markets, long walks, panicking about law school.' Whatever worries she may have had, friends describe her as a picture of confidence when she was back at Yale in 2010 to start law school. She and JD Vance were soon assigned as partners on a major writing assignment. He was awestruck. 'She seemed some sort of genetic anomaly, a combination of every positive quality a human being should have: bright, hardworking, tall and beautiful,' he wrote in a widely quoted passage in 'Hillbilly Elegy.' The feeling was not mutual at first. 'I think it's fair to say that JD was sort of the pedal in the relationship and I was a little bit of the brakes,' she told the crowd at the U.S.-India forum this month. 'Because I was sort of focused on the schooling part of it.' The two were married in 2014 in an outdoor wedding in Kentucky, near JD Vance's hometown, and spent the next decade crisscrossing the country. Along the way, Usha Vance gave birth to Ewan in 2017, Vivek in 2020 and Mirabel in 2021. Vance clerked for Judge Brett Kavanaugh in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and for Chief Justice Roberts, and worked for the law firm Munger, Tolles & Olson in San Francisco and Washington. JD Vance became a partner in a venture capital fund co-founded by Peter Thiel, a Silicon Valley billionaire and major Trump supporter. In 2017, the couple moved to Cincinnati, where Usha Vance worked remotely for Munger. The couple bought a big $1.4 million Victorian in East Walnut Hills, a liberal-leaning neighborhood. Vance joined the board of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and put Post-it notes on wine bottles to remind her husband which were the good ones to use for guests. A pivotal moment for Usha Vance came in 2018, when Christine Blasey Ford accused Kavanaugh, by then a Supreme Court nominee, of sexually assaulting her at a high school party nearly 40 years earlier. Kavanaugh denied the accusation and was narrowly confirmed, but friends say that Vance was outraged by Democratic attacks on a man she admired. 'My wife worked for Kavanaugh, loved the guy — kind of a dork,' JD Vance told New York Times columnist Ross Douthat last year. 'Never believed these stories.' When Vance became Trump's running mate in the summer of 2024, Usha Vance quit her job at Munger and threw herself into the vice presidential campaign. She and the children were often on the trail with him, and colleagues say she was a key part of the preparations for his debate with Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota. Usha Vance has largely stayed out of the fray over the administration's political and policy agenda, even as her husband has continued to be a polarizing figure. The one exception for Usha Vance was in March when she planned a trip to see a national dog sled race in Greenland, which Trump has said he wants to take over from Denmark. Vance made a cheerful video ahead of the trip, but it was ultimately downsized to a brief stop with her husband at a U.S. military base after strong objections from Greenlanders. In the coming months, Vance says she will continue to roll out second lady projects. For now, she continues to take her children to her office in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, the one with the view of the Washington Monument.
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Love, faith, & vegetarian life: Usha Vance opens up on life as US second lady; wants to have Holi party
Second Lady Usha Vance has stepped into the national spotlight with unexpected candour, offering a warm and thoughtful glimpse into her family life, vegetarian upbringing, and Hindu faith. In a candid appearance on Meghan McCain's Citizen McCain podcast, she painted a picture of an interfaith household marked by openness, choice, and deep cultural respect. Reflecting on her interfaith marriage to Vice President JD Vance—who converted to Catholicism after the birth of their first child—Usha shared how they navigated the complexities of faith. 'We had to have a lot of real conversations about how do you do that, when I'm not Catholic, and I'm not intending to convert,' she said, explaining their decision to send their children to Catholic school while ensuring they have full access to Hindu traditions through family, books and travel With her husband JD Vance now a central figure in Donald Trump's Republican administration, Second Lady Usha Vance has begun carving out a public identity of her own. In an extended conversation with Meghan McCain, Usha opened up about family life, her Hindu faith, her upbringing as a vegetarian, and how the Vance children are being raised with elements of both parents' traditions. 'They know that I'm not Catholic. .. They have plenty of access to the Hindu tradition,' Usha explained. Love story that started in law school Usha first met JD Vance during a tour at Yale Law School, where they were in the same classes and became fast friends. 'He was just obviously really good friend material right off the bat,' she recalled. 'It really was... in our second semester when he started to talk more about where he was from... that I started to think of him in this different way.' Usha Vance Opens Up: Her First Extended Interview on Life as Second Lady with Meghan McCain Although author Amy Chua, famed as the "Tiger Mom," is often cited in their love story, Usha clarified: 'She wasn't instrumental in us dating... but she was really important later on,' especially in helping JD realise that pursuing happiness—including their relationship—was more important than chasing elite clerkships. Interfaith Marriage: Conversations, choices, and catholic school When JD converted to Catholicism after their first child was born, it prompted serious discussions. 'We had to have a lot of real conversations about how do you do that, when I'm not Catholic, and I'm not intending to convert.' The Vance children now attend Catholic school but are allowed to make their own decision on baptism. 'Our oldest child has done that... We make going to church a family experience. The kids know that I'm not Catholic. ' Usha said the children are also immersed in Hindu culture through family, books and travel. 'They know many practising Hindus... Their main point of access is through spending time with my parents and my grandmother.' Though the family doesn't mark many Hindu festivals formally at home, the children connect with their heritage through visits and stories. 'My grandmother is a particularly devout Hindu... She prays every day, goes to the temple, does her own pujas." Usha said she hopes to change that in future: 'We're actually hoping to have a Holi party, so we're looking forward to that next year.' Life as a vegetarian—and JD's culinary experiments Raised in a vegetarian household, Usha said she's always thought of meals holistically. 'It's really hard to think about vegetarian diets as substituting for meat... the better way is to have a number of smaller things on your plate.' When they began dating, JD took it upon himself to learn vegetarian cooking. 'The first place that he went was actually to my mum to learn how to make some of the dishes that I enjoyed.' Today, he's known in the family for his chocolate chip cookies and Southern-style biscuits. 'He makes amazing biscuits... He's made some really good cakes, so those are my favourites.' Parenting in the public eye Raising children under the glare of politics and media hasn't been easy. Usha said they try to maintain normal routines. 'They have to put away their laundry... If they spill something, they have to clean it up.' She said the goal is to give them as grounded a life as possible: 'Almost every decision that we make is directed at making it as much like what it would have been like if they'd been growing up in Cincinnati.' Reflecting on a rapid life change When JD was named vice president, everything changed in an instant. 'We had to suddenly move hotel rooms... There was really no opportunity for reflection.' Only after the inauguration did Usha have time to think about how she wanted to use her new platform. 'Now actually, this is maybe truly the fun part... where I can start bringing projects to the light.'
News18
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Usha Vance Says She Found Out About Husband's VP Pick Just Minutes Before Announcement
Last Updated: Usha Vance, the Second Lady of the US, learned just five minutes before the public that her husband, JD Vance, would be Donald Trump's Vice President pick. Usha Vance, the Second Lady of the United States, has revealed that she had no clue that her husband, JD Vance, would be Donald Trump's Vice President pick and that she got to know this just 'five minutes" before it was made public. Usha Vance made the revelation during a candid interview on Meghan McCain's podcast, Citizen McCain that aired on Thursday. During conversation, Usha opened up about the moment she entered the national political spotlight — and the personal cost of it. She was surprised when her husband was announced as a vice-presidential pick by Trump. Describing the instant, Vance recalled, 'It really felt like a bolt of lightning. You don't have an opportunity to think about it, or even to plan what it is that you'd like to do." The conversation mostly revolved around her identity, lifestyle, and quiet resistance to the new role she now inhabits. Daughter of Indian immigrants, Vance had previously kept a low political profile and built a legal career and served previously as a lawyer. Now, she finds herself navigating life under scrutiny — something she admitted isn't her ideal.
India Today
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Usha Vance says she learned of husband's VP pick ‘five minutes' before public
Usha Vance, the enigmatic Second Lady of the United States, revealed in a new interview that she found out her husband, JD Vance, would be Donald Trump's running mate just 'five minutes' before the rest of the country a breezy but revealing sit-down with Meghan McCain, which aired on Thursday, Vance opened up about the whiplash moment that thrust her into national political life, and about her continued discomfort in the spotlight. advertisement'It really felt like a bolt of lightning,' Vance said. 'You don't have an opportunity to think about it, or even to plan what it is that you'd like to do.' The interview focused more on personal topics than politics and offered a rare look into the views of the former progressive lawyer, who previously worked at a law firm and had kept a low political conversation with McCain, Vance repeatedly hinted that her current life is far from her dream scenario. 'In my dream world, I'll be able to live in my home and continue my career,' she said. 'If that happens in four years, I understand. If that happens at some other point in the future, I understand. I'm just sort of along for the ride and enjoying it.'advertisementShe seemed eager to maintain some normalcy, describing herself as a 'millennial person living in the world' who avoids hair-styling appointments, wears athleisure, and unwinds with Pilates and coffee when asked about the pressure of being the first South Asian woman in the role, she downplayed it: 'Maybe we've just sort of moved beyond trying to count firsts of everything,' she said. 'I'm not sure — except when older Indian people kind of give me that look.'Throughout the interview, Vance avoided taking political positions, instead reflecting on motherhood, identity, and how strange it feels to be seen differently now.'People are socially distant from you in various ways,' she said. 'Either because they really just hate something about you or because they're a little uncomfortable. Or maybe it's a sign of respect.'Even her children, she noted, are noticing the impact of their public profile. 'They're hearing big concepts, like that there's a war between Ukraine and Russia,' Vance said. 'Kids on the playground around here talk about these sorts of things; they want to play games about current events.'Despite the attempt to stay above the fray, Vance's role in a White House facing sharp criticism over mass deportations and civil rights rollbacks raises hard questions, especially given her background as the daughter of Indian immigrants and a former avoided asking those questions, focusing instead on Vance's portrayal by Freida Pinto in Hillbilly Elegy and her protein intake as a Hindu about her personal style, she answered with an identity-based reflection: 'What would I do if I were back in Cincinnati, living the life I had set out to live?' she mused. 'I would just try to be me and to feel like myself.'- EndsMust Watch
Miami Herald
a day ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Usha Vance Addresses Her First Lady Chances
Second Lady Usha Vance has opened up about the prospect of husband Vice President JD Vance ascending to the presidency in 2028, and the chances of becoming the next First Lady. In a candid interview with Meghan McCain, recorded at the Vice-Presidential residence at One Observatory Circle in Washington, D.C, she said: "I'm not plotting out next steps," adding that she would be happy to be "along for the ride" if her husband became president. Newsweek contacted the White House via online form on Friday for comment. Usha Vance has passed the historic milestone of being the first South Asian and Hindu Second Lady, but she is steering clear of stating any political ambition, whether in the short term or as potential First Lady. As Vice President, husband JD is widely regarded as the leading contender for the Republican presidential nomination in 2028, though he has yet to formally declare his candidacy. Usha Vance addressed the subject on Wednesday's episode of the podcast Citizen McCain with Meghan McCain, with her host describing it as a "very exciting possibility." "There is not a small chance you could be our first lady in a few years," said former View co-host McCain. "I wanted to know is that stressful for you, is it exciting, is that something you think about, is this something everyone is asking you everywhere you go?" Usha offered a measured response, emphasizing that her current priority lies squarely in the present moment: "Well, people do ask about it," the attorney said, adding, "three years ago, or maybe it was four years ago at this point, I had absolutely no intention of leading any sort of life in politics, it really is that rapid. "And then when we moved our kids to school in this area it was with no intention whatsoever of JD running for a new office and so my attitude is that this is a four-year period where I have a set of responsibilities to my family, to myself, to obviously the country, and that's really what I'm focused on." "I'm not plotting out next steps or really trying for anything after this," she noted. "And in a dream world, eventually I'll be able to live in my home and kind of continue my career and all those sorts of things. "And if that happens in four years, I understand, if that happens at some other point in the future, I understand, I'm just sort of along for the ride and enjoying it while I can." Usha also announced during the interview that the couple are expecting their third child. She also revealed that it's been "really hard" for JD to quit driving since assuming office. The Second Lady discussed living at the Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C, and how much she appreciates the staff there. However, the couple maintains close ties to Ohio and considers it their true home. Meghan McCain on her podcast to Vance: "I really just am such a fan of yours, I think you're so cool, I really hope you are a first lady someday, and I don't mind saying that, you don't have to say, it I will." McCain also praised Usha's humility and perspective on motherhood and public life. Usha talked about looking forward to bringing projects to light that she is interested in and working on things she is excited about. She recently launched a children's reading initiative, her first public-facing project since her husband became Vice President. Related Articles Usha Vance Opens Up About Family Life in Rare InterviewTrump Doesn't Rule Out Military Force to Take GreenlandPutin Issues Arctic 'Conflicts' Warning Over Trump's Greenland PlansGreenland Solves Political Crisis Hours Before JD Vance Visit 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
