Hindu American Foundation slams JD Vance over remarks on Usha Vance faith, asks why not engage with Hinduism too

The Hindu American Foundation has slammed Vice President JD Vance’s remarks that he wished for his wife Usha Vance, who is a Hindu by faith, to convert to Christianity, despite the Republican leader later clarifying his statement.

Vance on Friday defended his remarks about Usha Vance’s Hindu faith, saying she is “not a Christian and has no plans to convert,” while rejecting criticism that he had “thrown her religion under the bus in public”.

“With respect @JDVance, if your wife encouraged you to re-engage with your faith, why not reciprocate that and engage with Hinduism too? If you did, you may well learn that Hinduism doesn’t share the need to wish your spouse comes around to see things as you do in terms of religion,” the Hindu American Foundation wrote on X.

The group flagged Vance about the history of Christians denigrating Hindus and attempting to convert them through unethical means at times. It also said there was an outpouring of anti-Hindu sentiment online, “often coming from explicitly Christian sources”.

“Hinduism is inherently inclusive and pluralistic in this way. We do not seek to convert anyone. We embrace the idea that there are multiple ways of conceiving of the Divine. Yet, there remains a compulsion, from some religious communities, to convert us to another way of thinking, that goes beyond mere dialog and sharing of differing opinions,” it said.

The foundation advised Vance to “acknowledge the positive impact of Hinduism on Hindus and the rights of Hindus to practice”.

JD VANCE’S REMARKS ON USHA’S FAITH

Speaking at a Turning Point USA event at the University of Mississippi recently, Vance had said he hoped his wife, Usha, who was raised Hindu, would one day embrace Christianity.

“Most Sundays she will come with me to church. Do I hope eventually that she is somehow moved by the same thing that I was moved in by church? Yeah, I honestly do wish that,” he had said.

His comments, made while noting that she often attends church with him and their children, who are being raised Christian, drew backlash online for being dismissive of her Hindu background.

Asked during the event whether he hoped his wife would eventually “come to Christ”, Vance replied that faith was deeply personal and that differences in belief had never created conflict in their marriage.

Following the backlash, Vance took to social media to elaborate on his comments. “She is not a Christian and has no plans to convert, but like many people in an interfaith marriage, or any interfaith relationship, I hope she may one day see things as I do,” he wrote.

“Regardless, I’ll continue to love and support her and talk to her about faith and life and everything else, because she’s my wife,” he had added.

Vance and his wife, Usha, who is of Indian origin, met at Yale Law School and have three children together.

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