'She is not Christian, has no plans to convert': JD Vance defends comments on wife Usha’s religion

In a post on X, Vance described the backlash as “disgusting” and said he would not shy away from discussing his interfaith marriage, given his position as a public figure.

The controversy erupted after the Republican leader said in a recent interview that while his Indian-origin wife, who was raised Hindu, attends church with him and their children, who are being raised in the Christian faith.

Vance added that he “would like” if she eventually chose to convert.

Critics accused him of disrespecting his wife’s faith, with one user writing, “It’s weird to throw your wife’s religion under the bus, in public, for a moment’s acceptance by groypers.”

Responding to that post, Vance shared a detailed three-point clarification.
“First off, the question was from someone curious about my interfaith marriage. I’m a public figure and wasn’t going to avoid it,” he said.

He went on to explain that it was his wife who helped him reconnect with his Christian faith years ago. “She is not a Christian and has no plans to convert, but like many in interfaith relationships, I hope she may one day see things as I do,” Vance wrote.

The Vice President also condemned what he called “anti-Christian bigotry” behind the criticism.

“Yes, Christians have beliefs. And yes, those beliefs have consequences — one of which is wanting to share them with others. That’s a completely normal thing, and anyone saying otherwise has an agenda,” he wrote.

What did Vance say?

Speaking at a Turning Point USA event in Mississippi on Wednesday, Vance talked about faith and family, responding to a question about whether his wife would “come to Christ.”

“Most Sundays, Usha comes with me to church. Do I hope, eventually, that she is somehow moved by the same thing that I was moved by in church? Yeah, I genuinely hope so because I believe in the Christian gospel and wish my wife would see it the same way someday,” Vance said.

Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, had emphasized that differences in faith do not cause conflict in their marriage.