Usha Vance’s Spokesperson Addresses Marriage Rumors After She’s Spotted Without Wedding Ring During Outing with Melania Trump

After Usha Vance was seen without her wedding ring, online speculation about her marriage to Vice President JD Vance flared up. A spokesperson for the second lady is now pushing back on those rumors.

Usha, 39, joined first lady Melania Trump on Wednesday, Nov. 19 for a visit to Camp Lejeune, a Marine Corps training facility in Jacksonville, North Carolina. Photos from the outing showed her without her wedding ring, and social media quickly filled with claims that the Vances might be having marital trouble.

In response, a spokesperson for the second lady — who rarely comments publicly — dismissed the chatter, explaining that Usha sometimes forgets to wear the ring while juggling life at home. The spokesperson described her as “a mother of three young children, who does a lot of dishes, gives lots of baths, and forgets her ring sometimes.”

Usha and JD Vance have been married since 2014 and share three children: sons Ewan, 8, and Vivek, 5, and daughter Mirabel, 3.

The rumors were also amplified by a moment from late October involving Erika Kirk, the widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Weeks after Charlie was assassinated at a Turning Point USA event, Erika — now the organization’s CEO — introduced the vice president at a University of Mississippi stop on Oct. 29. During her emotional remarks, she said she saw “similarities” between her late husband and JD before pulling him into a long hug onstage.

“No one will ever replace my husband. But I do see some similarities of my husband in JD — in Vice President JD Vance. I do. And that’s why I am so blessed to be able to introduce him tonight,” she said ahead of the embrace.

The hug drew widespread attention online, with many users debating whether it was appropriate given Erika’s recent loss. Erika has since said JD has been a meaningful source of support, praising both him and Usha for their kindness in the aftermath of her husband’s death.

JD Vance also drew headlines at the same Oct. 29 event for commenting on his family’s interfaith household. After being asked about the balance between his Catholic faith and Usha’s Hindu upbringing, he said they’ve chosen to raise their children Christian and acknowledged that he hopes his wife may one day convert, while emphasizing that it’s ultimately her decision.

“Everybody has to come to their own arrangement here,” he said. “The way that we’ve come to our arrangement is she’s my best friend. We talk to each other about this stuff. So, we’ve decided to raise our kids Christian.”

He added that Usha often attends church with him, and said he wishes she might eventually be moved by Christianity as he was, but stressed that faith cannot be forced. He closed by saying that respecting free will is a core Christian principle.