Former First Lady Melania Trump and Usha Vance, wife of Sen. J.D. Vance, share a common sentiment about political life, according to former President Donald Trump.
During an event last month, Trump asked Usha Vance about her feelings on being in political life as the spouse of a senator. When she expressed indifference, Trump responded with an expletive, mentioning that Melania also “hated it,” which elicited laughter from Usha. This interaction was reported by the New York Times.
Melania Trump was notably absent from the 2020 and 2024 campaign trails, in contrast to her more public role during Trump’s 2016 presidential bid.
After months of speculation and narrowing down candidates, Trump announced on Monday that he selected Sen. J.D. Vance as his running mate. Shortly after the announcement, delegates at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, voted Vance as their vice-presidential nominee for the November election.
Usha Vance, an Ivy League-educated litigator who clerked for Chief Supreme Court Justice John Roberts, expressed concerns about the scrutiny that comes with being in the political spotlight. Speaking to Fox & Friends, she mentioned the shock they felt during Vance’s first campaign and described the experience as an adventure.
Usha and J.D. Vance met at Yale Law School in 2013, got married in 2014, and have three children: Ewan Blaine, Vivek, and Mirabel. The family resides in Cincinnati, Ohio. Usha has appeared at campaign events and in advertisements, discussing Vance’s upbringing and their family life.
Before finalizing his decision, Trump considered Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida and Gov. Doug Burgum of North Dakota as potential running mates. Trump ultimately chose Vance despite efforts from Republican donors like Ken Griffin and Rupert Murdoch to sway him towards another candidate. Murdoch’s associates had pushed for Burgum, but Trump was reportedly unimpressed by Burgum’s emotional displays.
