WASHINGTON D.C. — U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance has publicly defended his earlier comments expressing a hope that his wife, Second Lady Usha Vance, who was raised in the Hindu faith, will one day convert to Christianity. His remarks, initially made at a conservative youth event, sparked significant controversy online, which the Vice President later addressed and dismissed as “anti-Christian bigotry.”

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The Initial Remarks

 

The controversy began during a question-and-answer session at a Turning Point USA event at the University of Mississippi. A questioner asked the Vice President about his multi-faith and multi-racial household and whether he hoped his wife would “come to Christ.”

Vice President Vance, a Catholic convert who was raised Protestant, responded by affirming his Christian belief. He stated that his wife, Usha Vance, who is of Indian origin and was raised Hindu, often attends church with him.

“Do I hope eventually that she is somehow moved by the same thing that I was moved in by church? Yeah, I honestly do wish that,” Vance said. “Because I believe in the Christian gospel, and I hope eventually my wife comes to see it the same way. But if she doesn’t, then God says everybody has free will, and so that doesn’t cause a problem for me.”

He also noted that when he and Usha met at Yale Law School, they both considered themselves agnostic or atheist, and they have decided to raise their three children in the Christian faith.

 

Public Outcry and Defense

 

Vance’s comments quickly drew intense online criticism from various commentators, with some accusing him of disrespecting his wife’s Hindu faith, pandering to a conservative political base, and being “Hinduphobic.” The backlash intensified over his previous public acknowledgment that Usha herself had encouraged him to reconnect with his faith years ago, and for what critics viewed as a condescending attitude towards Hinduism.

In response to the growing public scrutiny, Vice President Vance took to social media to elaborate and strongly defend his position. He clarified his wife’s stance on the matter and condemned his critics.

• Clarification on Wife’s Intentions: Vance explicitly stated, “She is not a Christian and has no plans to convert,” a statement consistent with Usha Vance’s own past public remarks.
• Defense of His Hope: He maintained that hoping one’s loved ones embrace one’s own deeply held faith is a normal and common desire in an interfaith relationship. “My Christian faith tells me the Gospel is true and is good for human beings… I hope she may one day see things as I do,” he wrote.
• Accusation of Bigotry: Vance characterized the outrage as “anti-Christian bigotry,” arguing that wanting to share one’s religious beliefs with others is a completely normal expression of Christian faith.

 

The Hindu American Foundation’s Response

 

The Hindu American Foundation (HAF), a prominent U.S. advocacy group, weighed in on the controversy. They pointed out that while Usha Vance encouraged her husband to explore his faith, he should also “reciprocate that and engage with Hinduism too.” The HAF argued that Hinduism is an inherently pluralistic faith that does not mandate spouses to adopt the same religious beliefs or seek to convert others. They called for Vance to “acknowledge the positive impact of Hinduism on Hindus and the rights of Hindus to practice.”

Despite the public debate, the Vice President’s latest comments emphasize that he continues to “love and support” his wife, regardless of their differences in religious belief.