Usha Vance, the Second Lady of the United States, recently appeared at an official engagement without her wedding ring. The appearance comes weeks after her husband, Vice President JD Vance, publicly acknowledged a religious difference in their marriage.
The 39-year-old was ringless as she joined First Lady Melania Trump on a visit to Camp Lejeune military base in Richlands, North Carolina. One photographer captured Usha as she stepped off a plane, her left hand clearly visible but without her wedding band in sight. Images taken at Camp Lejeune and neighbouring Marine Corps Air Station New River show that the ring was not worn at all during the visit. By contrast, the Vice President wore his wedding band the following day as he took to the podium to address an audience in Washington.
Speculation about marriage online
The absence of Usha's ring comes amid a swirl of online commentary about the state of the Vance marriage. Prior speculation had mounted after JD Vance admitted he had asked his wife to consider converting from Hinduism, his own Roman Catholic faith, to raise their three children in a Christian household.
As per a report by The Dailymail, these rumours were intensified by a widely circulated moment last month, where Vance was seen in a tight hug with Erika Kirk during a memorial for her late husband, Charlie Kirk.
Social media users didn't waste any time interpreting these events, and several insinuated that Usha's decision to go ringless might be a silent statement of her emotions. Others quickly leapt to her defence, citing that many people take off their rings for practical reasons when dealing with young children. A representative with the Second Lady has told the Daily Mail that Usha sometimes forgets her ring while dealing with the daily tasks of bathing and feeding her three young children.
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First joint engagement with Melania Trump
As per the report by Dailymail, the recent visit marked Usha's first public engagement alongside Melania Trump. The duo sought to raise the spirits of the troops ahead of Thanksgiving, visiting Lejeune High School and a nearby elementary school for arts and crafts with students.
JD Vance has said that although he might want Usha to become a Christian someday, he would leave the decision to her free will. For now, the couple continues to be in the public eye despite constant speculation on their personal life.
