‘I was amazed at the lack of drama…’: VP-elect JD Vance on meeting wife Usha’s parents

As JD Vance prepares to take the oath as Vice President of the United States, his wife, Usha Chilukuri Vance, is poised to become the first Indian-American to hold the title of Second Lady. In his memoir Hillbilly Elegy, released in 2016, describes about the first time he met Usha’s parents which Vance describes as a stark contrast to his own childhood.

JD Vance and Usha Chilukuri first met in the early 2010s while studying at Yale Law School. Coming from vastly different backgrounds, they quickly formed a bond despite their contrasts. JD, a self-described "conservative hillbilly from Appalachia," and Usha, the “supersmart daughter of Indian immigrants,” found common ground in their shared academic ambitions and values. 

Usha, the daughter of Indian immigrants from Andhra Pradesh, grew up in a stable and harmonious household in San Diego. Her father, Chilukuri Radhakrishna, is a mechanical engineer from IIT Madras, and her mother, Lakshmi, is a molecular biologist. In contrast, Vance’s childhood was marked by significant challenges, including his mother’s drug abuse and his grandparents’ history of alcoholism.

When JD first visited Usha’s family for Thanksgiving, he was struck by the calm and order within their home. Unlike the dysfunction he experienced growing up, Usha’s parents had a peaceful dynamic. He was particularly surprised by the absence of family drama. In his memoir, Vance wrote, “I was amazed at the lack of drama. Usha’s mother didn’t complain about her father behind his back. There were no angry exchanges or back-and-forth arguments. Usha's parents seemed to genuinely like each other and spoke of their family members with love.”

This encounter left a lasting impression on Vance, who had never experienced such harmony within a family. The visit to Usha’s family not only highlighted the differences in their backgrounds but also deepened his respect for the values she and her family upheld.

The couple married in 2014, a year after graduating, and now share three children.