Usha Chilukuri Vance took the spotlight at the Republican National Convention on Thursday to introduce her husband, JD Vance, who is running as Donald Trump’s vice-presidential candidate for the upcoming US presidential election.
During her speech at the RNC, Usha recounted their story, detailing how they first met and the journey leading to this pivotal moment, where JD Vance stands as Donald Trump’s running mate for Vice President.
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She described JD as a working-class individual who triumphed over childhood traumas to attend Yale Law School with the aid of the G.I. Bill.
“When I was asked to introduce my husband, JD Vance, to all of you, I was at a loss. It occurred to me that there was only one thing to do: to explain, from the heart, why I love and admire JD, why I stand here beside him today, and why he will make a great Vice President of the United States,” Usha expressed.
She continued, “I met JD in law school when he was fresh out of Ohio State, which he attended with the support of the G.I. Bill. He was then, as now, the most interesting person I knew. A working-class guy who had overcome childhood traumas that I could barely fathom to end up at Yale Law School. A tough Marine who had served in Iraq, but whose idea of a good time was playing with puppies.”
Usha also highlighted how her husband adapted to her cultural background, stating, “Although he’s a meat and potatoes kinda guy. He adapted to my vegetarian diet & learned to cook food from my mother. Indian food. before I knew it. he’d become an integral part of my family. The JD I knew then is the same JD Vance you see today, except for that beard.”
In his inaugural speech as Trump’s vice-presidential nominee, JD Vance discussed his challenging upbringing in Ohio, growing up without a father and with a mother struggling with drug addiction.
Accepting his nomination, Vance urged Americans to “choose a new path,” arguing that the nation’s leaders have consistently failed. He credited his grandmother, lovingly known as “Mamaw,” for his success, describing her as “tough as nails.” He recounted a story of her threatening to run over a local drug-dealing boy with her car if Vance continued to associate with him.
Vance’s selection and his transformation position him as a potential future leader of the Republican Party and the standard-bearer of Trump’s “Make America Great Again” political movement, which has profoundly impacted the GOP and disrupted long-standing political norms.
As the first millennial to join a major party ticket’s top tier, Vance enters the race at a time when voters are increasingly concerned about the age of the leading candidates, with Trump being 78 and Biden 81 years old.