Vance Responds To Comments Made About His Wife Usha

Vice President J.D. Vance responded forcefully this week to critics who have made personal attacks against his wife, Usha Vance, drawing national attention after comments he made in an interview with the outlet UnHerd. Speaking candidly, Vance said that anyone who targets his wife should expect zero tolerance from him, regardless of political affiliation or media status.

“Anyone who attacks my wife, whether their name is Jen Psaki or Nick Fuentes, can eat s—. That’s my official policy as vice president of the United States,” Vance said, according to the published transcript of the interview. The remarks quickly circulated online and were widely reported across political media.

The comments came amid renewed attention on online and media criticism directed at Usha Vance, who has largely stayed out of the public spotlight despite her husband’s rise from senator to vice president. Fuentes, a fringe podcaster known for inflammatory rhetoric and antisemitic views, has repeatedly posted about Usha Vance on social media.

In one November 2024 post, Fuentes mocked her name using a crude nickname and has also allegedly used an ethnic slur when referencing her background. Earlier this year, he wrote that conservatives should “keep the same energy” when criticizing public figures over their backgrounds, mentioning Usha Vance and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy in the same post.

Both Usha Vance and Ramaswamy were born in the United States. Fuentes also referenced New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, who was born in Uganda and later became a naturalized U.S. citizen. Critics have said Fuentes’ comments reflect a broader pattern of judging public figures based on ethnicity rather than policy or qualifications.

UnHerd asked Vance directly whether he disavows Fuentes. In response, the vice president said he finds any effort to judge people based on ethnic heritage unacceptable.

“My attitude towards anybody, again, who is calling for judging people based on their ethnic heritage, whether they’re Jewish or white or anything else, it’s disgusting,” Vance said. “We shouldn’t be doing it.”