Usha comes from a well-educated family of Indian immigrants. Her father worked as an aerospace engineer and university lecturer, while her mother was a professor of molecular biology.

Speaking of Usha, Vance said in 2020, “She instinctively understood the questions I didn’t even know to ask and she always encouraged me to seek opportunities that I didn’t know existed.

“I’m one of those guys who really benefits from having sort of a powerful female voice over his left shoulder saying, ‘Don’t do that, do that.’”

When Vance was nominated for vice-president, she put her career on hold in order to support her husband. When Trump won the elections, she appeared on stage next to him.

Being a second lady, Usha accompanies her husband to a number of events.

However, days ago, during an event in Michigan, Vance cracked a joke about his wife that many dubbed “tasteless” and “uncomfortable.”

In a video clip of the event, which has been seen over 10 million times, the vice president said of his wife, “I think she’s doing a great job as second lady of the United States, and I’m so proud to have her by my side.

“And here’s the thing, ’cause the cameras are all on, anything that I say, no matter how crazy, Usha has to smile and laugh and celebrate,” he said gesturing backward toward her.

The crowd started laughing at his joke, but the online reception wasn’t as warm.

Some social media users even urged Usha to “run” from her husband and his demand for admiration.

“So Vance is a trad husband influencer now?” one person wondered.

“JD Vance saying his wife has to ‘smile, laugh, and celebrate’ whatever he says—no matter how crazy—is straight-up creepy. Political spouses who just sit there grinning like puppets aren’t admirable. They’re useless. And it’s 2025. Women aren’t props,” someone commented.