US Vice President JD Vance has publicly addressed swirling rumours about the state of his marriage after his wife, Usha Vance, was photographed on multiple occasions not wearing her wedding ring.
The Spark of Speculation
The speculation began in November when the Second Lady was first pictured without her ring at an event with First Lady Melania Trump. The absence was noted again in early December during a visit to Joint Base Andrews. At the time, a spokesperson for Usha Vance offered a domestic explanation, stating she "does a lot of dishes, gives lots of baths, and forgets her ring sometimes."
However, the Vice President provided a new, more specific account during a recent interview with NBC News. He explained that during a rushed departure for the White House to attend an event with Melania Trump, Usha had just showered and left her rings behind. "She was like, 'Oh, if I don't go back and get them, there's going to be some ridiculous psycho who talks about it on social media,'" Vance recounted. "And I was like, 'Let them. It's not even worth the trip to run back upstairs.'"
Vance's Response to the Rumour Mill
Dismissing the controversy, Vance claimed the couple find the intense scrutiny over the missing jewellery more amusing than concerning. "I think that we kind of get a kick out of it," he said. He acknowledged the pressures of public life, stating, "There are certainly ways in which it's difficult on the family … I'm not going to pretend that it isn't. But it's the sacrifice that we signed up for."
He was emphatic about the strength of their union, adding, "But our marriage is as strong as it's ever been, and I think Usha's really taken to it, and it's been kind of cool to see how she's developed and evolved in this new role." The couple, who married in 2014 and share three children, have faced previous rounds of online whispering.
Previous Controversies and Current Focus
Nasty rumours initially gained traction in October after Vance was seen in a tight embrace with Erika Kirk, the wife of commentator Charlie Kirk, at a memorial. Speculation intensified further when Vance revealed he had pleaded with Usha to convert from Hinduism to Catholicism, a comment he later clarified on X by stating, "She is not Christian and has no plans to convert."
While Usha Vance largely avoids the media spotlight, she is now leading a programme to promote childhood literacy, an initiative her husband praises. "It's been amazing to see her really lean into this child literacy thing. And I think it speaks very highly of her," Vance said.
The Vice President's comments aim to quell the gossip cycle, framing the missing ring as a simple oversight and the resulting speculation as a peculiar, laughable side effect of life in the political stratosphere.
