JD Vance revealed how Donald Trump joked when he first spoke to his running mate’s wife Usha Vance.
The Republican nominee for vice president held a town hall with the conservative non-profit group Moms for America in Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday night.
JD Vance was telling the story of how his wife decided to quit her job as a “very brilliant, very accomplished corporate litigator” to support her family during his campaign.
He said that the first time Usha Vance and Trump “talked in any great detail,” the former president greeted her, gave her a “big hug” and called her “beautiful.”
“Those of us who know (Trump) know he’s a very engaging guy, despite what the media tells you about him—he’s actually just a very warm and normal person,” JD Vance said.
The Ohio senator went on to recount the conversation between Trump and Usha Vance, with Trump asking what she thought of her husband being involved in politics.
JD Vance said: “If anybody knows my wife, it’s like the perfect Usha answer—it’s a very diplomatic answer. It’s like: ‘Well sir, my husband really loves public service, we love the state of Ohio and I’m just really thrilled to be able to help him out where I can.’
“And Trump looks at her, goes: ‘Yeah my wife hates it too.'”
The crowd erupted into laughter at that, before JD Vance added: “That’s what I love about Trump—Trump finds the real truth in something and whether you want him to say it or not, he just points his finger right at it.”
Usha Vance, born Usha Chilukuri, is an attorney who has carved out a successful career in the legal field. She clerked for Supreme Court Justice John Roberts and Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh before he was nominated to the Supreme Court.
She was born to Indian immigrant parents in San Diego, California, and met JD Vance at Yale Law School while they were both students there.
JD Vance and his wife Usha Vance arrive to Minneapolis/St. Paul International airport in Minneapolis, Monday, October 14. JD Vance revealed a conversation between his wife and Trump.
AP
One of the hosts then said to JD Vance in reference to Trump: “I’m glad you brought him up because a lot of people have brought up that you were not a fan of President Trump—and that you were very vocal about it.” She asked: “What changed?”
“A lot changed,” JD Vance said, adding: “There were a lot of predictions that were made about Donald Trump’s four years in office. And I think for swing voters, people on the fence, there are a lot of predictions right now being made about Donald Trump.”
JD Vance said: “A part of me and I’m ashamed to admit it, but it’s more important to be honest I think, is I kind of bought into some of the lies in 2016.”
While JD Vance is now Trump’s running mate, he was not always Trump’s biggest fan, once describing himself as a “never Trump guy” and calling the former president “America‘s Hitler.” He has since renounced these views multiple times.
Newsweek has contacted Trump’s team via email for any further comment.
