Sometimes, the most minor details reveal the biggest surprises. That’s precisely what happened when Usha Vance, the second lady of the United States, posted a video on Instagram. She was announcing her upcoming trip to Greenland for a dog sled race. But instead of focusing on the announcement, people noticed something unusual on the shelf behind her.
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In plain sight, there was a book—not written by her husband, JD Vance, but by former Vice President Al Gore. The book? Earth in the Balance is a famous warning about climate change.
Al Gore’s book, first published in 1992, was one of the first to raise alarm bells about global warming. In 2006, Gore doubled down, writing:
“Global warming is real, it is getting worse rapidly, it is mainly caused by human beings, we need to act now to avoid the worst of its consequences.”
That message is very different from what the Trump administration believes. Trump himself has called climate change “a hoax,” and just last week, he rolled back a rule that taxed methane pollution. Meanwhile, Lee Zeldin, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency, proudly said:
“We are driving a dagger through the heart of climate-change religion.”
So, the question is—why was Usha Vance displaying a book that completely goes against Trump’s views?
Some people online wondered if Usha Vance was trying to send a message. Was she secretly against Trump’s climate policies? Did she put the book there to show Greenland that she cares about the environment?
Greenland is already feeling the effects of climate change. Rising temperatures are melting ice, causing “ice quakes,” and threatening the environment. Maybe Usha Vance wanted to assure the people of Greenland that she understood their concerns.
Her cheerful tone in the video also caught people’s attention. She said she was “thrilled” to attend the dog sled race and promised that the relationship between the U.S. and Greenland “will only grow stronger in the coming years.”
Her message sounded nice and friendly. But her husband, JD Vance, was saying something very different just last month.
In an interview with Fox News, he made it clear that if Trump wants Greenland, he’ll take it.
“If that means that we need to take more territorial interest in Greenland, that is what President Trump is going to do because he doesn’t care about what the Europeans scream at us. He cares about putting the interests of America’s citizens first.”
That’s a very different message from Usha Vance’s polite and respectful tone. While she was talking about learning from Greenland’s culture, her husband was talking about taking control of Greenland’s land.
So, which message should people believe?
Of course, there’s also the possibility that the book was sitting on the shelf by accident. Maybe Usha Vance didn’t even think about it.
But in politics, every small detail matters. A book choice can send a signal, start rumors, and even change the way people see a politician. That’s why people are paying attention.
Al Gore’s book is titled Earth in the Balance. In the introduction, he writes about how confronting climate change forced him to examine himself.
“I had to look inside myself and confront some difficult and painful questions about what I am really seeking in my own life, and why.”
Maybe Usha Vance should do the same.
Featured image via Screengrab
