While the United States is at war with Iran and 13 Americans have already died, JD Vance took some time off for a night of filet mignon.
The Vice President and his wife, Usha, dined at Divino, an upscale Italian restaurant just a short walk from the vice-presidential mansion in Washington, D.C. Their table was loaded: filet mignon, short rib pappardelle, tagliatelle bolognese, house-made focaccia, tiramisu, chocolate mousse, and mocktails to drink.
A full spread by any measure. The bill was handled by someone on the Vances’ team, and the staff did receive a tip, though the amount was not disclosed.
What really grabbed attention was what happened when they left. Usha Vance handed 6 staff members commemorative second lady coins. Each coin was engraved with “Second Lady Usha Vance” and featured an image of the couple’s massive 9,150-square-foot, six-bedroom mansion. A beautiful keepsake. Zero cash value.
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To put it in perspective, collector coins from former Second Lady Karen Pence sell on eBay for anywhere between $45 and $399. Maybe the staff just hit a small jackpot. Maybe they were quietly hoping for cash. Hard to say.
Restaurant owner Luca Giovannini told TMZ that the couple was “very kind” and that JD even took time to learn staff members’ names before leaving. That is a thoughtful touch. But charm and awareness of a room do not replace common sense. The optics of giving a trinket during a war are impossible to ignore.
The dinner also comes at a tricky moment for Vance personally, not just politically.
Reports from early in the Iran conflict revealed that he had reservations about military action. President Trump confirmed this, telling reporters that Vance was “philosophically a little bit different than me” and “maybe less enthusiastic about going.” For a president who rarely allows nuance, that is significant.
Vance, who has built his political brand as a staunch anti-interventionist, has remained notably quiet about the war. No posts on X. No public statements. For someone normally vocal online, the silence is loud.
Meanwhile, the couple has a baby on the way. Vance declared in a December NBC News interview that his marriage is “as strong as it’s ever been,” brushing off speculation after Usha was repeatedly spotted without her wedding ring. “We kind of get a kick out of” the rumors, he said.
Featured image via Political Tribune Gallery
