In the early hours at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in Florida, Donald Trump took the stage to celebrate his electoral victory, welcomed by a rousing applause from a crowd eagerly awaiting their President-elect. During his victory speech, Trump took a moment to recognize his running mate, JD Vance, and his Indian-American wife, Usha Chilukuri Vance, eliciting enthusiastic cheers from the audience.
“I want to be the first to congratulate – now I can say Vice President-elect JD Vance. And his remarkable and beautiful wife, Usha Vance,” Trump announced, emphasizing his appreciation for the couple. Trump’s win over Democratic rival Kamala Harris came with a decisive 53-electoral vote margin, securing his path back to the White House.
Usha Chilukuri Vance, now set to become the Second Lady of the United States, was born to Indian immigrants from Andhra Pradesh who moved to the U.S. in 1986. Raised in a San Diego suburb, Usha earned a bachelor's degree in History from Yale University before completing a Master of Philosophy at the University of Cambridge as a Gates Scholar. She later attended Yale Law School, where she met JD Vance, her future husband, with whom she shares three children. The two married in 2014 in a ceremony that included a Hindu ritual, reflecting her cultural heritage.
Throughout JD Vance’s political career, Usha has been a consistent support, appearing alongside him during his Ohio Senate campaign and contributing insights to his memoir, Hillbilly Elegy. The memoir, which highlights the challenges of rural America, was later adapted into a film directed by Ron Howard.
Professionally, Usha has a distinguished career as a corporate litigator in San Francisco. Her experience includes prestigious clerkships with Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh of the U.S. Supreme Court. Her presence in American public life is likely to grow as she steps into her new role in the national spotlight, bringing her background as a first-generation Indian-American to the forefront.