US Vice President JD Vance on Friday defended his remarks about his wife, Usha Vance’s Hindu faith, following widespread criticism over comments made during a recent university event.
Vance said that Usha “is not a Christian and has no plans to convert,” while condemning the backlash as “anti-Christian bigotry.”
The controversy began earlier this week after the Vice President, speaking at a Turning Point USA event at the University of Mississippi, expressed hope that his wife, who was raised Hindu, might one day embrace Christianity.
“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,” Vance had said in response to a question about his interfaith marriage.
He added that while faith was deeply personal, differences in belief had never caused conflict in their relationship. “But if she doesn’t, then God says everybody has free will, and so that doesn’t cause a problem for me. That’s something you work out with your friends, with your family, with the person that you love,” he said.
The comments quickly drew criticism online, with many accusing the Vice President of being dismissive of his wife’s Hindu background. Critics claimed his words reflected a lack of respect for her faith and the diversity within interfaith marriages.
Responding to the backlash, Vance took to X to clarify his position and reject the accusations. “What a disgusting comment, and it’s hardly been the only one along these lines,” he wrote, replying to a social media user who accused him of publicly undermining his wife’s religion.
“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,” he said.
In his post, Vance reiterated his remarks from the event and defended his comments as sincere. “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. 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,” he said.
Also Read : JD and Usha Vance: Love story of America’s next power couple
Vance also pointed out that his wife had played a major role in his own spiritual journey. “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.
The Vice President went on to condemn what he described as rising intolerance towards Christians in public life. “Posts like this wreak anti-Christian bigotry,” he said.
“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.”
Vance, a devout Christian, met Usha at Yale Law School. The couple, who have two children, have often spoken publicly about their interfaith marriage, describing it as a partnership built on mutual respect and shared values.
Despite his clarification, the incident has reignited debate over religion, politics, and personal faith in public life, with critics and supporters offering sharply divided opinions on the Vice President’s remarks.
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