Lagatar24 Desk
Washington, D.C.: United States Vice President JD Vance has responded sharply to the controversy surrounding his remarks about his wife Usha Vance’s religion, clarifying that she is not a Christian and has no plans to convert. The Republican leader called the backlash “disgusting” and denounced what he described as “anti-Christian bigotry” in the reactions.
Vance Defends His Comments
In a detailed post on X (formerly Twitter), JD Vance said that while the question about his interfaith marriage was personal, he felt it necessary to address it publicly as a “public figure.” He explained that his remarks were made in response to a question about his interfaith marriage with Usha, who was raised Hindu.
“First off, the question was from someone seemingly to my left, about my interfaith marriage. I’m a public figure, and people are curious. I wasn’t going to avoid the question,” Vance wrote.
Acknowledges Wife’s Role in His Faith Journey
Vance further elaborated that his wife had played a key role in his spiritual life. “It was Usha who encouraged me to reengage with my faith years ago,” he wrote, adding that while she isn’t a Christian, he naturally hopes that “one day she may see things as I do.”
He added, “Yes, Christians have beliefs, and one of those is that we want to share our faith with others. That is completely normal, and anyone saying otherwise has an agenda.”
The Turning Point USA Controversy
The controversy erupted after Vance’s remarks at a Turning Point USA event in Mississippi earlier this week. Speaking to a crowd, Vance said:
“Now, most Sundays, Usha will come with me to church. As I’ve told her, and as I’ll say now in front of 10,000 of my closest friends—do I hope, eventually, that she is somehow moved by the same thing that I was moved by in church? Yeah, I honestly do wish that, because I believe in the Christian gospel and I hope eventually my wife comes to see it the same way.”
However, he clarified that her choice would not affect their relationship:
“But if she doesn’t, then God says everybody has free will. That doesn’t cause a problem for me. That’s something you work out with your friends, your family, and the person you love.”
Backlash and Rebuttal
Vance’s remarks drew criticism online, with some users accusing him of “throwing his wife’s religion under the bus.” In response, the Vice President called such reactions “anti-Christian intolerance disguised as progressivism.”
Vance and Usha Chilukuri Vance, an attorney of Indian origin, met while studying at Yale Law School. The couple has been married since 2014 and has three children.
