US Vice President JD Vance expressed his hope that his Hindu-raised wife, Usha Vance, would one day embrace Christianity, while stressing respect for her beliefs and their harmonious interfaith marriage. He made the remarks on Wednesday while addressing the Turning Point USA event in Mississippi.

When asked whether he hopes his wife will “come to Christ”, Vance responded, “Now, most Sundays, Usha will come with me to church. As I've told her, and as I've said publicly, and as I'll say now in front of 10,000 of my closest friends — do I hope, eventually, that she is somehow moved by the same thing that I was moved by in church? Yeah, I honestly do wish that because I believe in the Christian gospel and I hope eventually my wife comes to see it the same way.”

Faith and free will in their marriage

Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, emphasised that faith remains a deeply personal matter. “But if she doesn't, then God says everybody has free will, and so that doesn't cause a problem for me. That's something you work out with your friends, with your family, with the person that you love,” he said.

He also described Usha’s background, saying, “My wife did not grow up Christian. I think it's fair to say that she grew up in a Hindu family, but not a particularly religious family in either direction.”

A balanced interfaith home

Vance explained that their family has found balance in their differing beliefs. “Everybody has to come to their own arrangement here. The way that we've come to our arrangement is that she's my best friend. We talk to each other about this stuff. We've decided to raise our kids Christian. Our two oldest kids, who go to school, go to a Christian school. Our 8-year-old did his first communion about a year ago,” he said.

His comments drew applause from the conservative audience, underlining the couple’s approach to faith, family, and respect.

Usha Vance: roots in Andhra Pradesh

Usha Vance, wife of US Vice President JD Vance, traces her roots to Vadluru village in Andhra Pradesh’s Godavari district. Born in San Diego to Indian immigrant parents, she grew up in an upper-middle-class suburb before graduating from Yale University with a degree in history and later earning her Juris Doctor from Yale Law School.

In 2019, she was admitted to the District of Columbia Bar and worked at a prominent law firm until her resignation in July 2024. She introduced her husband at the 2024 Republican National Convention and frequently accompanies him at public events.

Usha’s ancestral village, Nidadavolu in West Godavari, is proud of her achievements. Her family is known for community contributions, including land donations to local temples such as Sai Baba, Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy, and Goddess Bala Seeta temples.

The Usha’s family emigrated more than five decades ago, but villagers continue to feel a strong connection with Usha. During the 2024 US election, residents gathered to offer prayers for her husband’s success, expressing pride in her global recognition.