To have a relationship in the public eye is never easy. It always comes with the pressure of looking good, even if things are not good. It also creates an expectation from people regarding how a good marriage is. And if someone doesn’t fit that bill, the pressure of separation and divorce can ruin any steady marriage.
JD Vance and his wife Usha Vance are going through something similar; There have been speculations of things not being good between the second couple, and constant scrutiny has started to show in their marriage. However, they might be seeking help from a third party now to do some damage control.
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Usha Vance has recently attempted to address speculation about her marriage. However, the recent attempt has backfired in a very public way. Over Memorial Day weekend, JD Vance participated in a solemn ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery.
Usha was missing from her husband’s side. However, later that day, Usha took to Instagram to post what appeared to be a tribute to fallen service members. Internet sleuths quickly noted that the image she shared was not from the current event. It was a throwback from a ceremony held in January.
BREAKING 🚨 President Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth arrive at Arlington National Cemetery
God Bless our Fallen Heroes 🙏
— MAGA Voice (@MAGAVoice) May 26, 2025
The post did little to squash the rumours of separation but rather re-ignited a fresh wave of scrutiny. The post was clearly made to look like both of them were together at Arlington, even if not together during the ceremony. However, that’s not where their attempt ended, and now the gossip mongers are full at work.
JD Vance was seen honouring the holiday at Arlington alongside former President Donald Trump and other dignitaries. Both the first and second ladies were missing from the event. These events in the past have been all about the first and second families paying their tribute. However, lately, all the official events are only about the president and vice president, with wives missing in action.
HAPPENING NOW🚨: Vice President-elect JD Vance & his wife Usha just arrived at Arlington National Cemetry to honor the fallen‼️🫡 pic.twitter.com/erdj17qbld
— Officer Lew (@officer_Lew) January 19, 2025
This is not new for Melania Trump, as she is hardly ever at the White House. However, Usha’s absence from this high-profile event was suspicious. As the second lady of the United States, her non-appearance did not go unnoticed. It added fuel to the ongoing conversation around the couple’s reportedly strained relationship. This was especially more noticeable after JD Vance’s very generic Mother’s Day post.
This isn’t the first time the couple has tried to use subtle and non-confrontational tactics to calm down rumours of a disagreement. However, Usha’s latest Instagram update struck many as tone-deaf and ineffective. It just gave the impression of a poorly orchestrated public relations manoeuvre.
❤️ @FLOTUS & @SLOTUS at the National Gallery of Art. pic.twitter.com/GszmUHyYQY
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) May 23, 2025
Social media users didn’t hold back. Usha’s post received a wave of negative comments. Many called out the attempt to pass off an old image as relevant to the current moment.
Critics were quick to label the post as a calculated but clumsy effort. This trial to stage-manage public perception has failed miserably. The backlash reflects a broader sentiment that the public is growing weary of what it sees as Vance’s overly curated image. Instead of projecting unity, the stunt solidified the doubts about the couple’s actual dynamic behind the scenes.
Maybe JD Vance and Usha Vance should do what the first couple does and let it be.
