US Vice President JD Vance has defended his remarks about his wife Usha Vance’s Hindu faith after facing criticism online, clarifying that she is “not a Christian and has no plans to convert.”
In a strongly worded post on X, Vance described the backlash as “disgusting” and accused his critics of “anti-Christian bigotry.” His statement came after many accused him of disrespecting his wife’s religion following his comments at a university event.
What a disgusting comment, and it’s hardly been the only one along these lines.
First off, the question was from a person seemingly to my left, about my interfaith marriage. I’m a public figure, and people are curious, and I wasn’t going to avoid the question.
Second, my… https://t.co/JOzN7WAg3A
— JD Vance (@JDVance)
Speaking at a Turning Point USA event at the University of Mississippi, Vance had said he hoped his wife might one day share his Christian faith. “Most Sundays she will come with me to church. Do I hope eventually that she is somehow moved by the same thing that I was moved in by church? Yeah, I honestly do wish that,” he said.
When asked if he hoped his wife would eventually “come to Christ,” Vance said faith was deeply personal and differences in belief had never caused problems in their marriage. “But if she doesn’t, then God says everybody has free will… that doesn’t cause a problem for me,” he added.
Following the online backlash, Vance clarified his remarks in detail 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,” he wrote. “Regardless, I’ll continue to love and support her and talk to her about faith and life and everything else, because she’s my wife.”
Vance emphasised that as a public figure, he could not avoid questions about his interfaith marriage. He also credited Usha for inspiring him to reconnect with his Christian faith years ago. “My wife, as I said at the TPUSA, is the most amazing blessing I have in my life. She herself encouraged me to reengage with my faith many years ago,” he said.
Condemning what he called growing hostility towards Christians, Vance added, “Yes, Christians have beliefs. And yes, those beliefs have many consequences, one of which is that we want to share them with other people. That is a completely normal thing, and anyone who’s telling you otherwise has an agenda.”
JD and Usha Vance, who is of Indian origin, met while studying at Yale Law School and have two children together.
