Being the Second Lady of the United States is complex, and Usha Vance is learning that fast. In a rare and honest interview with The Free Press, Usha opened up about what life is like in politics, power, and public attention.
“Obviously, our lives are not normal,” she said. “It feels almost absurd to say that they are.”
That’s putting it lightly.
Usha and her husband, JD Vance, used to live a quiet life. They had three kids and a dog and kept things simple. But now, they are part of Trump’s political machine, where facts often get ignored, critics are seen as enemies, and loyalty to Trump matters more than anything else.
They even got booed at the Kennedy Center during a concert. Usha remembered that people booed for about 20 or 30 seconds before JD smiled and waved at the crowd. She called it “brief.” Most people would probably call it uncomfortable.
But that is what life in the MAGA world looks like. If you are not clapping, people think you are the problem.
Usha says the Republican base has welcomed her, even though she does not look like many women in Trump’s circle. She joked about not being blonde. “It would be really hard for me to be blonde,” she laughed, saying it would look “totally absurd.” She is not wrong.
Some people noticed that she was letting her hair turn gray naturally. That got some attention online, but Usha said, “People don’t seem to care all that much what I look like.” That might be true for now, but we have seen how quickly MAGA turns on anyone who dares to be different.
Before JD became Trump’s running mate, Usha was a lawyer. She described her wardrobe as something a busy mom with three kids would wear. She said she liked outdoor activities, had a dog, and didn’t care much for fashion. Now, she is in a world where looks and image are everything, and truth often takes a back seat.
She admitted that this political life can feel lonely. When asked about JD asking her for advice, she replied, “I don’t know that he’s asking me for advice so much as it can be a very lonely, lonely world not to share with someone.” Many people can understand that, even if they disagree with her politics.
Usha also shared her thoughts on the messy state of politics today. She said social media creates quick anger and fake outrage. “Very, very intelligent people say things that are sometimes very, very ill-founded,” she said. That is partly true. But the problems go deeper than just the internet. There are lies, attacks on democracy, and endless drama, and much of it comes from the same administration her husband works for.
She did at least try to sound thoughtful. “It’s really easy to caricature your enemy,” she said. But she also admitted that plenty of people on the right do the same thing.
Currently, Usha says her goal is to live a “normal” life. That is a nice idea. But let’s be honest. It is hard to appear normal when your husband works for Donald Trump. It is even more complicated when you quietly stand beside policies that hurt immigrants, limit free speech, and weaken public education.
Featured image via Political Tribune Gallery
