WASHINGTON – While President-elect Donald Trump and Ohio Sen. JD Vance grabbed the spotlight during the swearing-in ceremony on Monday, a notable figure stood by their side: Usha Vance.

At 39, Usha Vance is not only the first Indian American and Hindu to take on the role of second lady but also one of the youngest to hold this office. She is the youngest since Jane Hadley Barkley, who was 38 when she served as second lady during the administration of former President Harry Truman’s Vice President, Alben Barkley, as reported by ABC News.

Usha Vance’s ascent to the role of second lady coincides with a time when Indian Americans are increasingly engaging in politics and vying for prominent positions, including several who have launched presidential campaigns in 2024.

“My upbringing was quite different from JD’s,” she shared during her speech at the Republican National Convention in July. “I grew up in San Diego in a loving middle-class family with immigrant parents from India and a wonderful sister. The fact that JD and I met, fell in love, and married showcases the greatness of this country.”

Perspectives among Indian American voters varied when speaking to YSL News about Usha Vance. Some expressed enthusiasm regarding her role as the second lady, while others felt she didn’t align with their expectations for representation.

YSL News attempted to contact JD Vance’s representative for a comment, but no response was provided for this article.

Indian Americans’ Perspectives on Usha Vance as Second Lady

Usha Vance’s political stance appears to have shifted, as she has transitioned from being a registered Democrat to backing her husband’s vice presidential campaign as a Republican.

Originally from California, Usha met JD Vance while both attended Yale Law School, and they tied the knot in 2014. In her Republican National Convention address in July 2024, she mentioned that JD Vance took the initiative to learn how to cook Indian cuisine for her mother.

Throughout the 2024 election, she stood up for JD Vance amidst controversies surrounding his comments about women without children, whom he referred to as “childless cat ladies,” and his anti-immigration remarks. He had even made misleading assertions regarding Haitian immigrants allegedly consuming pets.

“I don’t see her as the representation I aspire to as an Indian American woman, a working mom, and in other respects,” expressed attorney Sujata Raman, 47, from Novi, Michigan. “The rhetoric, divisiveness, and vitriol tied to the Trump-Vance campaign contrast sharply with what I believe our country stands for, especially regarding the Indian American community.”

Raman cast her vote for Vice President Kamala Harris in November.

Thrisha Mohan, 23, who is involved in programs and operations at a D.C. nonprofit, worries that Usha Vance’s role in the administration will not alter JD Vance and Trump’s political messaging or ideology.

Participating in their administration, she argued, could ultimately harm the Indian American community further. Mohan also supported Harris during the elections.

In a conversation with Fox & Friends co-host Ainsley Earhardt last year, Usha Vance admitted that although she and her husband might not see eye to eye on every political issue, she has confidence in his intentions.

“He shows me respect and seriousness, and that’s part of his thought process,” she noted.

Many Indian Americans are eager to see how she may influence her husband during a potential second term for Trump.

Some believe her position could potentially pave the way for greater recognition and acceptance of Indian Americans in a Trump administration.

Arun Agarwal, 54, a Dallas, Texas resident who backed former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley in the Republican primaries, appreciated Usha Vance’s open discussion of her Hindu faith and her connection with JD Vance, who practices Catholicism, during the campaign.

He remarked, “Will this ensure that Indian Americans have automatic representation in policy roles? Absolutely not. But will there be a greater inclination and openness towards Indian American perspectives, especially regarding the relationship with India? I strongly believe that will happen,” said Agarwal, who leads the textile company Nextt and supported Trump in the general election.

Although the Indian American community has generally leaned Democratic in recent elections, there has been a slight increase in support for Trump, as indicated by a survey from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace conducted last year.

In that survey, which involved 714 adult citizens, 60% of Indian Americans indicated they planned to vote for Harris in the 2024 election, while 31% intended to support Trump. In contrast, a survey from the same group in 2020, which included 936 adult participants, found 68% of Indian Americans planned to back President Joe Biden and 22% for Trump.

‘I Have Respect for Her’

Legislators on Capitol Hill also commented on Usha Vance’s new role as second lady.

Rep. Ami Bera, D-Calif., expressed skepticism about whether she would moderate JD Vance’s views and hoped she would emphasize her personal ties to immigration in her capacity as second lady.

“On the Democratic side, we tend to highlight stories about immigrants and the American dream involving hard work and family. I haven’t heard much from Usha Vance regarding this, but I must admit, she’s been relatively quiet in public speaking engagements,” he shared.

“It’s encouraging to witness the advancement of Indian Americans in politics. They’ve made significant contributions across many sectors,” stated Rep. Shri Thanedar, D-Mich., who immigrated to the U.S. in 1979. He expressed pride in her accomplishments.

Thanedar, one of six Indian Americans currently in Congress—all Democrats—includes Reps. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., Suhas Subramanyam, D-Va., and Bera.

He founded a bipartisan Congressional Caucus for Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, and Jain Americans in 2023 to combat religious discrimination and expressed hope that Usha Vance would focus on curbing violence against Hindus in her new position.

Khanna, who has known Usha for many years and is a surrogate for Harris’s campaign, praised her character, stating, “Usha is incredibly talented and substantive. I believe she serves as an inspiring role model for Indian Americans. Not only is she a highly respected lawyer, but she also excels as a mother, and I admire her commitment to public service.”