‘Because he can’t be President without insulting Hindus’: Why JD Vance’s remarks on his wife’s faith have angered Indians

US Vice President JD Vance (R) and US Second Lady Usha Vance chat following an amphibious capabilities demonstration on Red Beach at Camp Pendleton, California, on October 18, 2025 as part of the Marine Corps' 250th anniversary celebrations. (Photo by Oliver Contreras / AFP)

US Vice President JD Vance has sparked a political and cultural storm following his remarks about his wife’s religion at a recent Turning Point USA event at the University of Mississippi. His comments, in which he expressed a wish for his Indian-origin wife, Usha Vance, to embrace Christianity, have been widely criticised as insensitive and politically motivated.

The remarks that triggered controversy

Speaking before a large crowd, Vance said he hoped his wife would one day share his Christian faith, even as he emphasised respect for personal choice.

“Most Sundays, Usha will come with me to church. As I’ve told her and I’ve said publicly and I’ll say now, in front of 10,000 of my closest friends. Do I hope eventually that she is somehow moved by the same thing that I was moved by the church? Yeah, I honestly do wish that because I believe in the Christian gospel and I hope eventually my wife comes to see it the same way. But if she doesn’t, then God says everybody has free will and so that doesn’t cause a problem for me. That’s something you work out with your friends, with your family, with the person that you love," Vance said.

He added, “One of the most important Christian principles is that you respect free will. Usha is closer to the priests who baptise me than maybe I am. They talk about this stuff. My attitude is you figure this stuff out as a family and you trust in God to have a plan and you try to follow it as best as you can. And that’s what I try to do."

While Vance appeared to frame his comments as a personal reflection, they quickly drew strong reactions online, particularly from Indian Americans who accused him of disrespecting Hinduism and using his wife’s faith to appeal to conservative voters.

Online backlash from Indian Americans

Social media platforms were flooded with criticism, with many users calling Vance’s statement politically calculated rather than personal.

One user wrote, “He knew she was a Hindu when he married her, why act brand new to her religion now?"

Another posted, “Because he wants to be president now and he can’t get there without sh**ting on Hindus."

Others highlighted what they saw as hypocrisy in Vance’s remarks. “When JD Vance had hit his lowest, it was his ‘Hindu’ wife and her Hindu upbringing that had helped him navigate through the tough times. Today, in a position of power, her religion has become a liability. What a fall. What an epic fall for the man," one user wrote.

Another comment read, “JD Vance publicly casts his wife Usha’s Hindu faith as a problem to be fixed, a soul to ‘move’ to Christianity. She sacrificed her career, bore him 3 kids and stood by him. This isn’t American values, it’s weak leadership and poor politics, bending to MAGA pressure, not defending her dignity."

One more user added, “Honestly, the most pathetic moment of JD Vance’s entire life to publicly throw your wife under the bus to appease some fringe losers. During the last election cycle, she was a good Hindu woman who actually convinced JD to be more Christian, now she is a directionless Heaton."

From Atheism to Catholicism: Vance’s journey of faith

JD Vance’s relationship with religion has evolved over time. Born into an evangelical Christian family, he later identified as an atheist. During his years studying law, he began exploring religion and philosophy more deeply.

In his 30s, he became drawn to Christianity, citing the influence of Saint Augustine’s writings. He has said those works helped him realise that “faith and intelligence can go hand in hand.”

Vance converted to Catholicism in 2019, saying the decision gave him a sense of structure and meaning in life.

Diplomatic criticism from India

The controversy has also drawn attention from Indian diplomats. Former foreign secretary Kanwal Sibal criticised Vance for appearing reluctant to acknowledge his wife’s Hindu roots.

Sibal wrote, “He calls her agnostic. Afraid to admit her Hindu origin. Where has all this talk of religious freedom gone? They have this Congressionally mandated US Commission on International Religious Freedom. Charity should begin at home."

Divided reactions in US

While Vance’s remarks have triggered outrage among Indian Americans and interfaith advocates, his comments were warmly received by some Christian conservatives and MAGA supporters, who applauded his public expression of faith.

The incident has reignited debates in the US about religion, cultural respect and the boundaries between personal belief and political messaging. For many, the controversy surrounding JD Vance’s comments reflects a larger question: where does faith end and politics begin?