US Vice President JD Vance has come under fire after publicly expressing hope that his wife, Usha Vance, who is of Hindu origin, would one day embrace Christianity. Speaking at a Turning Point USA event in Oxford, Mississippi, Vance said, “Do I hope eventually that she is somehow moved by the same thing I was moved by Church? Yeah, I honestly do wish that, because I believe in the Christian gospel, and I hope eventually my wife comes to see it the same way." He added, however, that he respects her free will if she chooses otherwise.

The remarks sparked a wave of criticism, with many accusing Vance of disrespecting his wife’s Hindu faith and labeling his comments as “hypocritical” and politically motivated. Indian American commentators pointed out that Usha Vance has consistently stated she has no intention of converting and embraces her Hindu roots, including participating in traditional Hindu rites and exposing their children to Hindu epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata.

Usha Vance, in earlier interviews, described her upbringing in a Hindu family and reiterated that while their children attend Catholic school and are raised Christian, they also have ample access to Hindu traditions at home. She emphasized mutual respect in their interfaith marriage, acknowledging JD Vance’s journey from atheism to Catholicism and his baptism in 2019, while maintaining her own identity and beliefs.

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The controversy also reflects the broader religious and political climate in the US under the influence of conservative Christian movements. The event where Vance spoke was held to honour the late Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, known for his brand of religiously-infused conservative activism. The episode has fueled debates on religious freedom, respect for interfaith families, and the political instrumentalisation of faith.

Critics, including Indian dignitaries and political commentators, have called on Vance to publicly reaffirm respect for his wife’s faith and interfaith harmony. Supporters argue that hoping a spouse finds one’s faith is natural within religious families. This incident vividly highlights ongoing tensions in America’s approach to religion, identity, and politics.

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