U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and his wife Usha Vance in Washington, DC.
| Photo Credit: AFP

Donald Trump and Melania Trump dance

| Video Credit:
The Hindu

Shortly after being sworn-in as the 47th President of the United States of America, Donald Trump and US First Lady Melania Trump danced during the Commander-in-Chief Ball at the Walter E. Washington Convention Centre in Washington.

They were joined by Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance. Later, Mr Trump and Mr Vance cut a large cake with swords.

Mr Trump then danced to the hit “Y.M.C.A” by 1970s disco band Village People, a staple in many of his campaign rallies.

U.S. President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, U.S. Vice-President J.D. Vance and his wife Usha Vance attend the Commander in Chief Ball in honour of Mr. Trump’s inauguration in Washington, U.S. on January 20, 2025.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

U.S. President Donald Trump has said that he would have chosen Usha Chilukuri Vance, J.D. Vance’s wife, as his Vice-President as “she is smarter but the line of succession did not work that way”.

Ms. Usha, 39, on Monday (January 21, 2025), became the first Indian-American and Hindu Second Lady after her husband J.D. was sworn in as the 50th Vice-President of the U.S.

On Monday, wearing a pink coat, she held the Bible in one hand and their daughter Mirabel Rose in the other, as Mr. Vance placed his left hand on the religious text, and raising his right hand took the oath of office.

Trump inauguration LIVE updates

As a lawyer who is the daughter of Indian immigrants— her parents’ ancestral village is Vadluru in West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh— Ms. Usha is also one of the youngest second ladies assuming the position.

She is the youngest Second Lady since 38-year-old Jane Hadley Barkley, the wife of former President Harry Truman’s Vice-President Alben Barkley.

After Mr. Trump was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States with J.D. as his deputy, the 78-year-old Republican addressed a crowd in the overflow room, calling them “beautiful”.

Mr. Trump praised his team, especially J.D., for his successful re-election bid.

“I watch J.D. over a period of time. I endorsed him in Ohio. He was a great senator and a very, very smart one,” said Mr. Trump, but added, “The only one smarter is his wife”.

This reference made everyone around the hall laugh.

Mr. Trump then looked at J.D. and said, “I would have chosen her but somehow the line of succession didn’t work that way, right?” “She is great and he is great. This a great, beautiful couple and an unbelievable career,” he continued.

Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, a mentor to Ms. Usha, administered the oath to her husband J.D.

Ms. Usha had clerked for Supreme Court justices Kavanaugh and John Roberts.

Her rise as Second Lady comes as Indian-Americans have become more politically active during recent election cycles and have stood as candidates on the national stage, including several who ran for president in 2024, the Hill reported.

“My background is very different from J.D.’s,” she said at the Republican National Convention in July.

“I grew up in San Diego, in a middle-class community with two loving parents, both immigrants from India, and a wonderful sister. That J.D. and I could meet at all, let alone fall in love and marry, is a testament to this great country.” Ms. Usha is Hindu, raised by Indian immigrant parents in California. Her husband credits her with helping him return to his faith.

Mr. Vance told the Megyn Kelly Show podcast in 2020: “If I maybe get a little bit too cocky or a little too proud, I just remind myself that she is way more accomplished than I am. People don’t realise just how brilliant she is.” Ms. Usha and Mr. Vance met at Yale Law School while studying and later married in 2014 in Kentucky. The ceremony was blessed by a Hindu priest at a different event, according to a New York Times profile.

The Vances have three children: sons Ewan and Vivek, and a daughter named Mirabel.

After Mr. Vance was chosen as Mr. Trump’s running mate, Ms. Usha’s Hindu roots soon became the talk of the town. Mr. Vance has said on several occasions that his wife is not a Christian but was “very supportive” of deepening his faith.

Asked about the challenges of an interfaith marriage, Ms. Usha said, “There are a lot of things that we just agree on, I think, especially when it comes to family life, how to raise our kids. And so I think the answer really is, we just talk a lot.”

US Vice President-elect JD Vance’s photo with his wife Usha Vance’s Indian family has gone viral on social media. In the picture, Mr Vance can be seen wearing a blue t-shirt and jeans while holding his son on his shoulder. His wife, dressed in a yellowish-brown outfit can be seen on the left side, holding their daughter. Alongside the couple, about 21 family members can be seen enjoying themselves in what appears to be a party in the backyard of a home.

Asha Jadeja Motwani, a Silicon Valley-based venture capitalist, shared the undated pic and captioned it as saying: “JD Vance at Thanksgiving. Reminds me of the big fat Indian wedding.”

JD Vance at Thanksgiving -). Reminds me of the big fat Indian wedding…. pic.twitter.com/vzEjODMRZt

— Asha Jadeja Motwani (@ashajadeja325) December 2, 2024

As the post went viral, reactions poured in from all quarters with the majority appreciating the Ohio senator for his sweet and loving family.

“JD got a sense of real family,” said one user, while another added: “Lots of respect to Vance here for spending time with his wife’s fully Indian family. It can be hard for an outsider to adapt to Indian culture, especially with the older generation. Seems like they had a great time.”
A third added: “His son is sitting on his shoulder in a pure Indian way.”

However, some white supremacists once again launched racist attacks on the Republican leader and his wife for the picture. Nick Fuentes, a far-right commentator, infamous for his absurd takes, posted the image and wrote: “If you support JD Vance you are either being paid by Peter Thiel or you’re ngmi.”

Also read | “Meat And Potatoes Guy Who Cooks Indian Food”: Usha Vance On Husband

JD Vance’s love for India and Indian food

Speaking to popular podcast host, Joe Rogan, earlier this month, Mr Vance waxed lyrical about the appeal of Indian vegetarian cuisine and how his wife had influenced his food choices.

“For any vegetarian out there, indulge in paneer, rice, and chickpeas. Skip the nasty fake meat. If you want to embrace a vegetarian lifestyle, turn to Indian cuisine. It offers wonderful vegetarian options,” said Mr Vance.

The Republican leader also recalled an early attempt at impressing Usha with homemade vegetarian food that didn’t go as planned. “I rolled out a flat thing of crescent rolls. I put raw broccoli on top of it. I sprinkled ranch dressing, and I stuck them in the oven for 45 minutes.” The result, he said, was “disgusting”.

Usha Vance and JD met at the Yale University in 2014 while pursuing their law degree. JD’s memoir describes Usha as his “Yale spirit guide” who helped him navigate life at the elite varsity. The couple has three children together.

US Vice President-elect JD Vance’s photo with his wife Usha Vance’s Indian family has gone viral on social media. In the picture, Mr Vance can be seen wearing a blue t-shirt and jeans while holding his son on his shoulder. His wife, dressed in a yellowish-brown outfit can be seen on the left side, holding their daughter. Alongside the couple, about 21 family members can be seen enjoying themselves in what appears to be a party in the backyard of a home.

Asha Jadeja Motwani, a Silicon Valley-based venture capitalist, shared the undated pic and captioned it as saying: “JD Vance at Thanksgiving. Reminds me of the big fat Indian wedding.”

JD Vance at Thanksgiving -). Reminds me of the big fat Indian wedding…. pic.twitter.com/vzEjODMRZt

— Asha Jadeja Motwani (@ashajadeja325) December 2, 2024

As the post went viral, reactions poured in from all quarters with the majority appreciating the Ohio senator for his sweet and loving family.

“JD got a sense of real family,” said one user, while another added: “Lots of respect to Vance here for spending time with his wife’s fully Indian family. It can be hard for an outsider to adapt to Indian culture, especially with the older generation. Seems like they had a great time.”
A third added: “His son is sitting on his shoulder in a pure Indian way.”

However, some white supremacists once again launched racist attacks on the Republican leader and his wife for the picture. Nick Fuentes, a far-right commentator, infamous for his absurd takes, posted the image and wrote: “If you support JD Vance you are either being paid by Peter Thiel or you’re ngmi.”

Also read | “Meat And Potatoes Guy Who Cooks Indian Food”: Usha Vance On Husband

JD Vance’s love for India and Indian food

Speaking to popular podcast host, Joe Rogan, earlier this month, Mr Vance waxed lyrical about the appeal of Indian vegetarian cuisine and how his wife had influenced his food choices.

“For any vegetarian out there, indulge in paneer, rice, and chickpeas. Skip the nasty fake meat. If you want to embrace a vegetarian lifestyle, turn to Indian cuisine. It offers wonderful vegetarian options,” said Mr Vance.

The Republican leader also recalled an early attempt at impressing Usha with homemade vegetarian food that didn’t go as planned. “I rolled out a flat thing of crescent rolls. I put raw broccoli on top of it. I sprinkled ranch dressing, and I stuck them in the oven for 45 minutes.” The result, he said, was “disgusting”.

Usha Vance and JD met at the Yale University in 2014 while pursuing their law degree. JD’s memoir describes Usha as his “Yale spirit guide” who helped him navigate life at the elite varsity. The couple has three children together.

Amaravati:

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday praised US Vice President elect-JD Vance’s victory in the presidential election as a historic moment as it will catapult a woman of Telugu heritage, Usha Chilukuri Vance, as the Second Lady of the United States.

Usha is the wife of JD Vance and her family’s ancestral village Vadluru is located near famous Godavari town Tanuku in the lush green West Godavari district, about 35 km from district headquarters Bhimavaram.

With the Trump-Vance victory on Wednesday, Usha Vance, 38, is set to become America’s Second Lady — the first Indian-American in that role.

“I would also like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to JD Vance, on becoming the US Vice President-elect. His victory marks a historic moment, as Usha Vance, who has roots in Andhra Pradesh, will become the first woman of Telugu heritage to serve as the second lady of the US,” said Mr Naidu in a post on X.

Calling this a moment of pride for the Telugu community around the world, Mr Naidu said he looks forward to the opportunity to invite them (JD Vance and Usha) to visit Andhra Pradesh.

I would also like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Mr. @JDVance, on becoming the US Vice President-elect. His victory marks a historic moment, as Mrs. Usha Vance, who has roots in Andhra Pradesh, will become the first woman of Telugu heritage to serve as the Second Lady…

— N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) November 6, 2024

Earlier, the chief minister congratulated Donald Trump for winning the 2024 US presidential election and wished him success.

The chief minister said that Mr Trump’s election would further strengthen ties between India and the US.

“I congratulate Donald Trump on his victory in the US Presidential Elections and wish him success as he prepares to lead his country forward. His first tenure marked significant strengthening of the Indo-US partnership,” said Mr Naidu in a post on ‘X’.

The TDP chief expressed confidence that the two nations, India and the US, will foster greater cooperation under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mr Trump.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

In her acceptance speech for the Democratic nomination, Kamala Harris vowed to resist the influence of authoritarian leaders, who she implied have allegedly manipulated Donald Trump’s foreign policy by appealing to his autocratic tendencies. In a bid to position herself against Republican frontrunner Trump, Harris is stressing her resolve on national security, portraying the billionaire as a riskier alternative.

In her speech, Harris made it abundantly clear that her presidency would mark a definitive break from the Trump era, particularly in foreign policy. “I will not cozy up to tyrants and dictators,” she declared.

As Dr Sweta Chakraborty, a Climate Surrogate for the Harris campaign, explains, Harris’s approach to policy formation is rooted in a clear-eyed assessment of the threats facing the country, both from foreign adversaries and from within. Dr Chakraborty, who has been closely involved in the campaign and was present at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago, noted that Harris’s message is resonating strongly with Indian-Americans and other minority communities who see in her as their leader.

Indian-American Perspective

“Kamala Harris is polling a few points ahead of Donald Trump and will surely get a surge following the DNC. Indian-Americans like myself are banding together and supporting her through various efforts and speciality collaborations. For example, we are raising funds through ‘South Asians in Climate’ after the DNC and ahead of the ‘Harris for President Climate Group’ official launch this September. South Asians are in. Climate voters are in, and as a South Asian climate surrogate, I represent both voter groups that broadly support Kamala Harris for President,” Dr Chakraborty told NDTV.

READ | When Kamala Harris Gave Her Watch To ‘Chitthi’: Aunt Recalls Fond Memories

Born in Oakland, California in 1964, Harris’s father is Donald Harris, a man of Afro-Jamaican descent while his mother is Shyamala Gopalan, who emigrated to the US at the age of 19 to pursue her doctorate in nutrition and endocrinology.

“Having a President who shares ancestry with South Asians in America shows that South Asian immigrants and their offspring have a clear place in America. A daughter of India can make it to the highest elected office in the United States, which shows that the sky is the limit for the Indian diaspora in the US. Indians in the US already enjoy the status as the highest-earning demographic. An Indian will elevate that status and make history for minorities and women more broadly,” Dr Chakraborty said. 

The Usha Vance Factor

However, Harris is not the only Indian-American whose name and image are plastered across the US presidential campaign. Over at the Republican camp, Trump’s Vice President pick JD Vance’s wife is Usha Vance who traces her roots to Andhra Pradesh’s Vadluru. 

Usha’s father, Chilukuri Radhakrishnan, was brought up in Chennai but went to the US to pursue higher studies. Usha was raised in San Diego, California and she met JD Vance at Yale Law School before getting married in 2014. 

Video | Kamala Harris’ Grandnieces’ Tutorial On Pronouncing Leader’s Name

“Usha Vance and her husband are trading in their morals for power,” Dr Chakraborty alleged. “It is clear they had authentically shared liberal values with friends and classmates from university, but edited and adjusted their stances to maneuver in the conservative party, which they perceived would be the easier route to power.”

Kamala Harris vs Donald Trump 

Dr Chakraborty highlighted a stark contrast between Harris and Trump: where Trump has prioritised tax breaks for billionaires and deregulation of corporate polluters, Harris has pledged to hold the oil and gas industry accountable, invest in a clean energy economy, and ensure that the benefits of climate action are shared by all Americans, not just the wealthy elite.

When Harris ran for vice president in 2020, her climate plan was even more aggressive than what ultimately passed during Joe Biden’s presidency as the Inflation Reduction Act – a landmark climate legislation in American history. Now, as she prepares to release her full climate agenda in September, Harris is positioning herself as the ‘Climate President’ for the United States, Dr Chakraborty said. 

“As an Indian woman, she also represents members of American society that have been historically disenfranchised. She is physically the opposite of Biden and represents the ascendency of women and a future society that is more equitable and fair to all genders and races,” she said. 

New Delhi/Chennai:

The Indian links of some US presidential election contenders probably mean little additional benefit for ties, experts said, against the backdrop of bipartisan support for closer relations with New Delhi to counter an assertive China.

Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and Usha Chilukuri Vance, the wife of Republican Donald Trump’s running-mate, have rarely visited the birthplace of one or both of their parents, although Indians take pride in their success.

“Either way, from India’s perspective, whether it is Republican or Democrat, that relationship enjoys bipartisan support and should not be affected,” said Harsh Vardhan Shringla, a former Indian ambassador to the United States.

“It can only benefit,” he said of the India links, adding, “(It) cannot be affected adversely.”

Since ties with New Delhi are viewed favourably by both parties in Washington, there will be little impact on relations, regardless of which party wins, or the candidate’s Indian roots, a government official said on condition of anonymity.

Both President Joe Biden and Trump, his predecessor in office, sought to woo India, not just to challenge China in the region, but also to wean New Delhi from a traditional dependence on Russian weapons.

ROLE MODEL

Both Harris and Usha Vance, the wife of Republican vice presidential candidate, JD Vance have links to southern India. Vance belongs to a family of renowned academics.

Harris, who has garnered the backing of enough delegates to secure the Democratic nomination, is viewed as role model in her mother’s ancestral village of Thulasendrapuram.

She has “proven how young women, previously confined to their homes, can reach such heights, becoming a public figure in the world’s No. 1 country,” said J Sudhakar, a resident of the village where Harris’ maternal grandfather was born.

“How big an achievement is that?”

Harris, who visited the village as a five-year-old, has recalled walks with her grandfather on the beach of the city of Chennai where the family later lived, about 320 km from the village of roughly 2,000 people.

But she has not been back since becoming US vice president.

“Residents expected a visit, a statement or at least a mention of the village, but that didn’t happen,” said shopkeeper G. Manikandan.

“But we will invite her when she wins and organise a grand celebration and welcome for her,” he added.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Usha Chilukuri Vance, the wife of JD Vance, at the Republican National Convention said that neither JD Vance nor she expected to find themselves in this position on Thursday. “But it’s hard to imagine a more powerful example of the American Dream,” she added, introducing her husband after Donald Trump named him his running mate for the US presidential polls.

Future Second Lady Usha Vance: “Neither J.D. nor I expected to find ourselves in this position — but it’s hard to imagine a more powerful example of the American Dream.”

FULL REMARKS: pic.twitter.com/JJgdJbem0H

— Team Trump (Text TRUMP to 88022) (@TeamTrump) July 18, 2024

Usha, born to immigrant parents from Andhra Pradesh, shared their story from the stage of the RNC. Recounting their first meeting and the journey that led them to this moment, she said “There was only one thing to do, to explain, from the heart, why I love and admire JD, why I stand here beside him today, and why he will make a great Vice President of the United States.”

She shared how they met at the law school, where JD was a “working-class student” who had “overcome childhood traumas” and served in Iraq as a Marine. “A tough Marine who had served in Iraq but whose idea of a good time was playing with puppies,” she said.

Usha shed light on the Ohio senator’s curious and enthusiastic approach to their differences when they first met, including his adaptation to her vegetarian diet and learning to cook Indian food from her mother. “Although he is a meat and potato kind of guy, he adapted to my vegetarian diet and learnt to cook Indian food from my mother,” she said.

JD and Usha Vance met at Yale Law School and married in 2014. The couple has three children together – Ewan, 6, Vivek, 4, and Mirabel, 2.

JD Vance also delivered a powerful speech at the RNC, talking about his roots in small-town Ohio and the economic challenges communities across the Rust Belt faced. He spoke about the struggles of small towns in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan and other states, where jobs have been sent overseas and children have been sent to war.

He vowed to be a champion for these forgotten communities, promising to never forget his humble beginnings. “I promise you this: I will be a vice president who never forgets where he came from,” JD said.

“To the people of Middletown, Ohio, and all the forgotten communities in Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, and every corner of our nation, I will fight for you, I will stand with you, and I will never forget the struggles we face.”

New Delhi:

Usha Chilukuri Vance, wife of JD Vance, Donald Trump’s vice-presidential pick, spoke at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee where she revealed her husband’s culinary skills in Indian cuisine.

Describing him as a “meat and potatoes” kind of guy, she mentioned his newfound ability to cook Indian food.

Recalling their meeting at Yale Law School, Ms Vance portrayed their relationship as “a testament to this great country”.

“We started as friends,” she said. “He was then, as he is now, the most interesting person I knew – a working class guy who had overcome childhood traumas that I could barely fathom to end up at Yale Law School, a tough marine who had served in Iraq, but who enjoys spending his leisure time playing with puppies and watching the movie ‘Babe’.”

Ms Vance also highlighted the diverse backgrounds they come from.

JD Vance has acknowledged the influence of his Hindu wife, Usha Chilukuri Vance, on his personal and spiritual life.

In an interview with Fox News, he explained how his wife’s Hindu faith had been pivotal in guiding him through challenges and reconciling his Catholic beliefs.

Previously, JD Vance has often credited Usha for supporting his success. During a 2020 interview with The Megyn Kelly Show, Vance described his wife as a “strong female voice” that grounds him. “Usha definitely brings me back to earth. If I get a little too confident or proud, I remind myself that she’s way more accomplished than I am,” he had said.