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| JD and Usha Vance brought their children to India earlier this year. They posed in front of the Taj Mahal. |
Here’s the deal: JD Vance, 41, a man who converted to Catholicism after a period of atheism, recently spoke at a Christian-based Turning Point USA event and, in front of a large crowd, expressed his hope that his wife would one day be "moved by the same thing that I was moved in by church." He believes in the Christian gospel and wishes she would "see it the same way."
Seems personal, right? A husband sharing his deepest hopes for the person he loves. But when you're the Vice President, nothing is truly personal, especially when you're playing to a Christian conservative base that values overt displays of faith.
Usha Vance, born to Indian immigrant parents and raised Hindu, has her own perspective. She has made it clear in past interviews: "I'm not intending to convert or anything like that."
She supports her husband's journey, even attending church with him, but she is rooted in her own heritage, ensuring their three children are exposed to Hindu traditions an attend Catholic school. The kids know she's not Catholic, and they have access to Hindu books, traditions, and family visits to India.
Vance, in turn, defended his remarks, calling the criticism "anti-Christian bigotry" and affirming his wife is the "most amazing blessing" in his life. He framed it as a normal Christian desire to share one's faith with loved ones.
So, what are we to make of all this? Is it a private, heartfelt hope that got magnified by a public stage, or is it a calculated political signal to to appease the MAGA crowd that includes the influential Christian nationalists that demands whollehearted alignment, even within the most intimate parts of a politician's life?
It’s probably a bit of both. In today’s polarized climate, even a simple wish for one's spouse to join their faith gets dissected for its political implications.
Usha is a lawyer, a supportive partner, and a proud Hindu. JD is a Catholic convert who wants his family to share his spiritual home. They seem to have a working arrangement that respects both their faiths and their children's choices. The public drama, however, is a reminder that in American politics, the line between personal conviction and public performance is blurrier than ever.
Since JD Vance was named Vice President, Usha Vance, who was born and raised in San Diego, has been targeted by the extreme right. According to All In Together, between January 1st and August 11th, there were approximately 1,800 unique public posts and 16,000 public posts, replies, and shares on Twitter/X, Instagram, and TikTok containing racist and/or gendered attacks against Usha Vance with a possible reach of 216 million accounts.
"There is also a history of Christians denigrating Hindus, attempting to convert Hindus through sometimes unethical means. In recent months we’ve seen an outpouring of anti-Hindu sentiment online, often coming from explicitly Christian sources," says the Hindu American Foundation in their letter to JD Vance.
"Some of the most vocal voices in your base seem to not actually believe religious freedom, one of the core concepts this nation was founded upon, as you well know, should extend to Hindus," concluded the HAF statement.
In an attempt to clarify and soften his earlier statement, JD vance posted on social media: “She is not a Christian and has no plans to convert, but like many people in an interfaith marriage – or any interfaith relationship – I hope she may one day see things as I do.”
Seems personal, right? A husband sharing his deepest hopes for the person he loves. But when you're the Vice President, nothing is truly personal, especially when you're playing to a Christian conservative base that values overt displays of faith.
Usha Vance, born to Indian immigrant parents and raised Hindu, has her own perspective. She has made it clear in past interviews: "I'm not intending to convert or anything like that."
According to People Magazine, the Vances have three children: Ewan is 8 years old, Vivek is 5 years old, and Mirabel is 2 years old.
She supports her husband's journey, even attending church with him, but she is rooted in her own heritage, ensuring their three children are exposed to Hindu traditions an attend Catholic school. The kids know she's not Catholic, and they have access to Hindu books, traditions, and family visits to India.
This isn't a new conversation for the couple. They've had to navigate how to raise their children in an interfaith household, a "real conversation" they worked out together. In an interview, Usha Vance said that she and her husband have agreed that they will allow their children to choose their faith.
"Our eight-year-old did his first communion about a year ago,” said JD Vance. “Do I hope eventually that she is somehow moved by the same thing that I was moved by in church? Yes. But if she doesn’t, then God says everybody has free will, and so that doesn’t cause a problem for me.”
"Our eight-year-old did his first communion about a year ago,” said JD Vance. “Do I hope eventually that she is somehow moved by the same thing that I was moved by in church? Yes. But if she doesn’t, then God says everybody has free will, and so that doesn’t cause a problem for me.”
The backlash againsst JD Vance's statement was swift, with critics, including the Hindu American Foundation, calling out the comments for possibly undervaluing Usha's faith and highlighting the "compulsion" some communities have to convert others. They noted Hinduism's pluralistic nature, which embraces multiple paths to the Divine.
Vance, in turn, defended his remarks, calling the criticism "anti-Christian bigotry" and affirming his wife is the "most amazing blessing" in his life. He framed it as a normal Christian desire to share one's faith with loved ones.
So, what are we to make of all this? Is it a private, heartfelt hope that got magnified by a public stage, or is it a calculated political signal to to appease the MAGA crowd that includes the influential Christian nationalists that demands whollehearted alignment, even within the most intimate parts of a politician's life?
It’s probably a bit of both. In today’s polarized climate, even a simple wish for one's spouse to join their faith gets dissected for its political implications.
Usha is a lawyer, a supportive partner, and a proud Hindu. JD is a Catholic convert who wants his family to share his spiritual home. They seem to have a working arrangement that respects both their faiths and their children's choices. The public drama, however, is a reminder that in American politics, the line between personal conviction and public performance is blurrier than ever.
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| JD and Usha Vance attend Good Friday mass at St. Peter's Cathedral at the Vatican. |
Since JD Vance was named Vice President, Usha Vance, who was born and raised in San Diego, has been targeted by the extreme right. According to All In Together, between January 1st and August 11th, there were approximately 1,800 unique public posts and 16,000 public posts, replies, and shares on Twitter/X, Instagram, and TikTok containing racist and/or gendered attacks against Usha Vance with a possible reach of 216 million accounts.
"There is also a history of Christians denigrating Hindus, attempting to convert Hindus through sometimes unethical means. In recent months we’ve seen an outpouring of anti-Hindu sentiment online, often coming from explicitly Christian sources," says the Hindu American Foundation in their letter to JD Vance.
"Some of the most vocal voices in your base seem to not actually believe religious freedom, one of the core concepts this nation was founded upon, as you well know, should extend to Hindus," concluded the HAF statement.
EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge.
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