Usha Vance Makes History as First Indian-American Second Lady with J.D. Vance's Vice Presidential Oath
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Synopsis
Usha Vance, the first Indian-American and Hindu Second Lady, celebrated her husband J.D. Vance's inauguration as the 50th Vice President of the United States, marking a historic moment.
Key Takeaways
- Usha Vance is the first Indian-American and Hindu Second Lady.
- J.D. Vance was sworn in as the 50th Vice President of the US.
- Usha held the Bible and their daughter during the oath-taking.
- She previously worked as a clerk for Supreme Court justices.
- Usha switched her political affiliation from Democratic to Republican.
Washington, Jan 21 (NationPress) Usha Vance made history as the first Indian-American and Hindu Second Lady following her husband, J.D. Vance, being sworn in as the 50th Vice President of the United States on Monday.
With the Bible in one hand and their daughter Mirabel Rose in the other, Vance placed his left hand on the sacred text and raised his right hand to take the oath of office.
President Donald Trump remarked later that Usha Vance is more astute than her husband and humorously suggested he might have chosen her for the vice presidency.
The oath was administered by Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who has mentored Usha.
J.D. Vance took the oath of office before President Trump did.
Prior to the Vances taking the stage, military personnel in ceremonial attire accompanied their children, Ewan Blaine, 7, Vivek, 4, and Mirabel Rose, 3, to the podium.
The boys donned formal suits, while Usha Vance wore a pink dress.
She radiated pride as she looked affectionately at J.D. Vance while he recited the oath after Kavanaugh.
J.D. Vance’s mother, Beverly Aikins, who has overcome substance abuse, stood by the family during the ceremony.
Usha Vance is the daughter of Telugu immigrants from India, Radhakrishna "Krish" Chilukuri, an aerospace engineer, and Lakshmi Chilukuri, the provost at the University of California, San Diego.
J.D. and Usha met while studying law at Yale University.
J.D., who faced a troubled childhood with his mother as a drug addict and poverty, credited Usha in his memoir as his "spirit guide" who aided him in navigating the Ivy League and professional realms.
After being raised by his grandmother, Vance joined the military to escape a chaotic upbringing in Middleton, Ohio, and eventually gained admission to Yale, where he initially felt out of place.
He reflected: "In a place that always seemed a little foreign, Usha's presence made me feel at home."
They tied the knot in 2014.
Following a brief stint in law, J.D. Vance transitioned to a career in business as a venture capitalist.
He entered politics and was elected to the Senate in 2022.
Usha Vance is a corporate litigator who left her prestigious law firm after her husband was nominated as the Vice Presidential candidate.
She previously clerked for Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts and Kavanaugh when he was an appeals court judge.
J.D. Vance also had an impact on her political views, leading her to switch her affiliation from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party.
