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.
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.”
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.”
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