The Influence of JD Vance’s Wife’s Hindu Faith on His Political Journey as Trump’s Vice-President Pick
US Senator JD Vance, selected by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump as his running mate, attributed his personal and religious journey to his wife and her Hindu faith.
In an interview with Fox News, aired weeks before his vice-presidential nomination, Vance, accompanied by his wife Usha Chilukuri Vance, shared insights into how her Hindu beliefs supported him through challenges and guided his exploration of his own Catholic faith.
Vance, 38, originally raised Protestant, began contemplating a conversion to Catholicism around 2016. He acknowledged Usha’s encouragement in his spiritual quest.
“I was raised Christian but never baptized. It wasn’t until 2018 that I was baptized. Usha, who was raised non-Christian, played a supportive role as I reconnected with my faith,” Vance explained.
Usha, raised in a devout Hindu family, emphasized the positive influence of her upbringing on her perspective and her support for JD’s spiritual journey.
“My parents are Hindu, and their influence shaped me into a better person. Witnessing this, I felt JD’s quest for spiritual fulfillment was a natural progression for him,” she said.
Discussing their approach to raising their children amidst their differing faith backgrounds, Usha highlighted open communication as their guiding principle.
“We talk extensively about everything. That’s how we find common ground on family matters,” she added.
The couple, who met at Yale Law School and married in 2014, are parents to three children: sons Ewan, 6, and Vivek, 4, and daughter Mirabel, 2. Usha and JD are also close friends with Indian-American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who previously challenged Trump for the Republican presidential nomination.
Donald Trump’s choice of Ohio Senator JD Vance as his running mate reflects Vance’s evolution from a Trump critic to a staunch supporter within the Republican Party. Usha Chilukuri Vance proudly stood by her husband’s side as he was announced as Trump’s vice-presidential candidate at the Republican National Convention.
