Second Lady of the United States, Usha Vance said that "This is a trip of a lifetime".
Usha Vance, the Second Lady of the United States, spoke exclusively to NDTV Tuesday about the 'family man' side of her husband and Vice President JD Vance, sharing heart-warming anecdotes about his fondness for Indian food and their children's interest in Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata.
Mrs Vance, who is of Indian origin and has roots in Andhra Pradesh, also spoke about her wedding to the Veep - an interfaith ceremony in Kentucky in the US in 2014 - revealing that it was important to include traditional Hindu rites to acknowledge her parents and ancestors.
US Veep Vance and his family are in India for a four-day visit.
They reached Jaipur earlier today and were shown around Amer Fort, a 16th century sandstone and marble fortress built by Man Singh I, who ruled the region from 1589 to 1614.
The fort was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013.
On The Children
Mrs Vance, in a chic white full-sleeved blouse and floral skirt, spoke at length about her three children - Ewan, Vivek, and Mirabel - and their interest in the Hindu epics.
"They (the kids) have never been to India, but they have read Indian history... so they have a sense of who would have been here (at the Amer Fort) historically," she told NDTV, recalling the family's visit to the fortress and the 'battles' the children pretended to wage from the ramparts of the fort.
They also enjoyed the special dance performance, she said. "They love to dance," Mrs Vance said, revealing also that a pottery class had been scheduled. "We have any number of activities planned."
On Vance's Cooking 'Skills'
The US Veep proved his skills as a high-stakes negotiator Monday, closing a trade deal between Delhi and Washington, D.C., even as Donald Trump's tariffs hover in the background.
In the kitchen, though, he is only an 'experimental cook', Mrs Vance smiled.
He does, however, have a fondness for Indian food, with channa masala and lamb dishes among his favourites. The kids are a fan too, the Second Lady said, "They eat it all the time."
"My mother and grandmother are excellent cooks... my father makes very dosa," she told NDTV, emphasising the pan-Indian tastebuds of the Vance household.
On The Vance Wedding
JD and Usha were wed in Kentucky in 2014.
According to a report by The New York Times, the interfaith ceremony was held outdoors, with wooden benches for guests who flew in from around the world.
Mrs Vance told NDTV it was important for her to have that Hindu element in her wedding ceremony, as a nod to her Indian heritage and her parents.
The couple were blessed by a Hindu priest and Jamil Jivani, a Canadian MP who is a close friend of JD and who read from the Bible. JD Vance was, then, not a Catholic; he converted in 2022, and he credits Usha Vance with that big moment in his life.
"The sad fact is that I couldn't do it without Usha. Even at my best, I'm a delayed explosion - I can be defused, but only with skill and precision," he wrote in his memoir, Hillbilly Elegy.
On Visiting PM Modi's Residence
On Monday evening the Vance family met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his 7, Lok Kalyan Marg residence in Delhi.
They enjoyed a puppet show there, which Mrs Vance said, was thoroughly enjoyed by the kids." The leather puppets from Andhra Pradesh... against shadow screens... it blew their minds!"
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The Prime Minister also hosted a dinner for the family.
On The India Visit
This is JD Vance and the kids' first visit to India, and it has been a special moment, Mrs Vance told NDTV. "It is a country that is growing... that is young and vibrant, and I think he (the Vice President) has been very impressed by what he has read about India, its culture and trajectory."
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"This is a trip of a lifetime. I have been to India (before) but it was something I wanted to share with my nuclear family," she said, recalling the colourful and traditional Rajasthani-style welcome, which included appearances by two elephants - Chanda and Puja.
What Now?
The Vances leave for Agra Wednesday to visit the Taj Mahal.
They will return to Jaipur briefly since JD Vance is scheduled to tour the City Palace.
And then they depart for home early Thursday.
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