Vice President JD Vance says his marriage is “as strong as it’s ever been,” brushing off growing speculation that he and Second Lady Usha Vance are headed for a split — after she was photographed twice without her wedding ring in two weeks.
“I think we kind of get a kick out of it,” the 41-year-old Vice President told NBC News Friday. “Our marriage is as strong as it’s ever been.”
Usha, 39, was not present for the interview — and so far, she’s keeping quiet.
The frenzy began Nov. 19 at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, when Usha appeared ringless during a visit with military families. A spokesperson later told People that she’s a “busy mom of three who forgets her ring sometimes.”
But the rumors reignited Dec. 1 when Usha appeared again without her ring — this time sitting beside First Lady Melania Trump at a Red Cross holiday event.
“She realized in the car she forgot it after showering,” Vance said. “She told me, ‘If I don’t go back and get it, there’s going to be some ridiculous psycho talking about it on social media.’ I told her, ‘Let them.’ We thought it was funny.”
Social media didn’t. Within hours, “#RinglessUsha” was trending on X, with speculation ranging from marital trouble to political distraction.
This isn’t the first time Vance’s marriage has drawn public attention.
Just weeks earlier, during an October 30 Turning Point USA event, Vance joked onstage that he wished Usha would abandon her Hindu faith and convert to Catholicism. She reportedly stood in the crowd with her arms crossed — and didn’t smile.
The moment quickly went viral, with critics accusing Vance of “Hinduphobia” and disrespect toward his wife’s beliefs.
“He threw her under the bus to score points with the Christian right,” said one political commentator on MSNBC. “It’s not a good look for a man one heartbeat away from the presidency.”
Vance also raised eyebrows that night by sharing what some witnesses called an “uncomfortably close” hug with Turning Point CEO Erika Kirk, widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
The Vances have long projected an image of family stability — Midwestern roots, three children, Sunday dinners. But Washington insiders say the vice president’s high-profile role under President Trump has put new pressure on the couple.
“Politics magnifies everything,” a former campaign aide told Politico. “A missing ring, a look on her face — suddenly it’s national news.”
JD and Usha Vance met while studying law at Yale and have been married since 2014. They share three children: Ewan, 8; Vivek, 5; and Mirabel, 3.
Still, public scrutiny shows no signs of easing.
“The vice president says it’s funny,” one social media analyst noted. “But the internet isn’t laughing.”
The White House has not commented on the situation. President Trump reportedly told aides he considers the matter “a private family thing.”
Check back for updates.
Sources: NBC News, People, Politico, Rolling Stone
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