Usha Chilukuri Vance, the wife of JD Vance, has become the first Indian-American and Hindu Second Lady of the United States. At 39, she is the youngest to hold the title since 38-year-old Jane Hadley Barkley, wife of former Vice President Alben Barkley.
During the inauguration ceremony, Usha, clad in a pink coat, held the Bible with one hand and her daughter Mirabel Rose with the other as JD Vance was sworn in as the 50th Vice President by Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, her mentor.
A lawyer and daughter of Indian immigrants from Vadluru village in Andhra Pradesh’s West Godavari district, Usha clerked for Justices Kavanaugh and John Roberts. She met JD at Yale Law School, and they married in 2014, blending their Hindu and Christian faiths. The Vances, who have three children, credit their interfaith marriage for strengthening their family bonds.
Usha’s rise to prominence reflects the increasing political engagement of Indian-Americans, noted in the 2024 elections. President Trump praised her brilliance, joking that she was “smarter” than her husband and would have been his Vice President if not for the “line of succession.”
Usha has described her journey from a middle-class immigrant upbringing in San Diego to the White House as a testament to America’s opportunities. Her presence in the administration highlights the nation’s growing diversity and inclusivity.
