Washington: Vice President JD Vance has defended his recent comments expressing hope that his wife, Usha Vance, a practising Hindu, might one day embrace Christianity. In a post on X, Vance clarified that while Usha has “no plans to convert,” she had played a pivotal role in encouraging him to reconnect with his Christian faith.
“My Christian faith tells me the Gospel is true and is good for human beings,” Vance wrote. “My wife--as I said at the TPUSA--is the most amazing blessing I have in my life. She herself encouraged me to re-engage with my faith many years ago. 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.”
The remarks followed a statement Vance made at a Turning Point USA rally in Oxford, Mississippi, where he reiterated his belief in the Christian Gospel and expressed hope that his wife might eventually share his views. He noted that Usha, who “grew up in a Hindu family, but not a particularly religious family in either direction,” regularly attends church with the family and that their children are being raised in the Christian tradition.
“Usha is closer to the priests who baptised me than maybe I am,” he added.
In a June interview with Meghan McCain, Usha Vance had ruled out religious conversion, stating, “I'm not Catholic, and I'm not intending to convert or anything like that.” She emphasised that their children are free to choose their faith and have access to Hindu traditions through books, cultural experiences, and a recent family visit to India.
“We send our kids to Catholic school, and we had given them each the choice. They can choose whether they want to be baptised Catholic, and then go through the whole step-by-step process… so far, our oldest child has done that. We'll see what our second child does,” she said, adding that Hinduism remains a visible part of their lives.
The couple, along with their three children, visited India in April for four days.
Responding to Vance’s clarification, the Hindu American Foundation posted on X, urging the Vice President to engage with Hinduism and recognise its inclusive nature. “Hinduism doesn’t share the need to wish your spouse comes around to see things as you do in terms of religion. Hinduism is inherently inclusive and pluralistic in this way,” the group stated. “We do not seek to convert anyone.”
The foundation also called on Vance to acknowledge the positive impact of Hinduism and affirm the rights of Hindus to practise their faith freely.
(Inputs from IANS)