"Meet your next director of the federal budget!": Usha Vance's $ 8 dollar dress meets JD's approval as story goes viral
Washington DC, June 26
US second Lady Usha Vance's choice of an 8 USD maternity dress purchased from Old Navy has now found approval from her husband JD who jokingly suggested that his wife should lead the federal budget. The comment follows Usha taking a dig at the media which went into a tailspin examining the political symbolism of her maternity wardrobe.
In a post on X on Thursday (local time), JD Vance said, "She bought a $50 dress for $8.75. America: meet your next director of the federal budget!", as he shared a picture of the receipt of his wife's dress.
His remarks came after Usha Vance responded to a New York Times fashion column that analysed the public presentation of prominent women in the Trump administration who are expecting children.
In a post on X, the second lady said, "Now that we know the political significance of my $8.75 coral maternity dress from Old Navy, can't wait to hear what the New York Times has to say about my elastic-waistband pants and compression socks! In the meantime, enjoy my pregnancy fashion (or lack thereof) and a good story with your kids on Storytime with the Second Lady."
She added while showing the picture of the receipt, "And here's the receipt!"
Usha Vance was responding to a New York Times opinion piece titled "The Politics and Power of the Pregnancy Image," written by fashion critic Vanessa Friedman. The article also discussed White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and Katie Miller, wife of White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, both of whom recently gave birth.
Fox News reported that Friedman highlighted an Instagram Father's Day Reel posted by Usha Vance, noting that she was "wearing a stretchy coral dress that hugs her stomach."
Friedman said, "That three such prominent women in the MAGA movement were pregnant at pretty much the same time was, indubitably, a coincidence. But for an administration that has such an intuitive and strategic understanding of the power of aesthetics that an unspoken dress code in which men outfit themselves in the image of the president has developed, it has also become a telling one."
She added, "Together, the women have created a notably consistent, and somewhat paradigm-shifting, picture of the White House's family and fertility platform."
According to Fox News, the column argued that after publicly announcing their pregnancies, the women "showcased their growing stomachs." Friedman further wrote of Usha Vance, "As second lady, her job is also to represent and humanise the vice president. By spotlighting her pregnancy, she is doing exactly that."
Usha Vance, who is expecting the couple's fourth child while JD Vance serves as vice president in the Trump administration, used humour to dismiss the article's interpretation of her maternity clothing, drawing attention instead to the discounted price of her dress.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Honestly, I think the NYT column missed the point. She's a mother of three expecting a fourth, working a demanding job. Of course she's wearing comfortable clothes. As Indians, we know how expensive good maternity wear can be; getting an Old Navy dress for $8.75 is actually impressive. Humble brag well deserved.
The amount of mental gymnastics the media does over a pregnant woman's clothing choices is exhausting. She's literally wearing compression socks because pregnancy is uncomfortable, not because it's a political statement. 😅 JD's response was gold though — imagine if Indian politicians' spouses were this practical about budgeting. Our MPs could learn something!
I get wanting to humanize politicians' families, but analyzing a coral dress like it's state secrets feels like a waste of journalism. That being said, Usha's riposte was witty and well-played. She turned the narrative around to being a savvy shopper rather than a political prop. Smart move.
🙌 Love that she's showing pregnant women can be comfortable and still professional. The NYT making it about MAGA aesthetics is so overdone. And her husband championing her budget-savvy choices? That's the kind of partnership we should normalize. Actually, can we talk about how modern Indian couples are also sharing household and parenting duties more openly?
From an Indian perspective, I appreciate how this story cuts through the excessive pomp around politicians. Our own leaders' families are often put on pedestals with expensive wardrobes and lavish spending. Usha showing a $8.75 receipt is a breath
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.