Usha Vance Discusses Raising Children in an Interfaith Household

In a recent interview, Usha Vance shared how she and her husband, J.D. Vance, navigate raising their three children in their interfaith family—she being Hindu and he Catholic. This conversation took place on Meghan McCain’s podcast, “Citizen McCain,” where Usha elaborated on their life at the Navy Observatory and the adjustments that come with being a second couple.

Usha explained that when she first met J.D., he wasn’t Catholic, and it was only later that he converted. This decision prompted numerous discussions between them. “Converting to Catholicism comes with significant responsibilities, like raising our kids in that faith,” she mentioned. They had to consider, quite thoughtfully, how to approach this decision.

Usha noted, “We decided to enroll our kids in Catholic schools, and that was a deliberate choice.” Their eldest son was already experiencing this new environment, and Usha described attending church as a “family experience.” However, she emphasized that their children are aware of her Hindu background. They have access to Hindu traditions through the literature she has provided and from their travels to India, where they explored various religious aspects.

This topic of cultural and religious identity recently appeared in a New York Times profile where some acquaintances referred to the couple’s interfaith journey as “confusing,” especially considering Usha’s previous Democratic affiliation.

On a different note, some say Usha has grown more disillusioned with the left over time, particularly after expressing outrage regarding the criticism of nominee Brett Kavanaugh during his confirmation process. She had previously supported Kavanaugh, while he was a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals.

According to reports, close friends suggest that Usha is also adjusting to navigating her role while J.D. faces criticisms from certain factions. In an August interview with Fox News, she discussed coping with negative media coverage of her husband, remarking, “Sometimes, I don’t recognize the JD the media portrays; it doesn’t align with who I know him to be.”

Usha and J.D. met while attending Yale University and married in 2014. J.D. Vance, at 40, holds the title of the third youngest Vice President in American history, while Usha is noted as the first Indian American Second Lady.