Usha Vance gives birth to fourth child
Washington, July 20
US Vice-President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance announced the birth of their fourth child, making him the first sitting US vice-president in more than 150 years to welcome a baby while in office.
The couple named their son Alec Neel Vance. He was born on Sunday morning at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.
"We are excited to announce that our baby boy, Alec Neel Vance, was born this morning. Usha and the baby are happy and healthy, and our kids are overjoyed to meet their little brother," the couple said in a joint statement.
The announcement, bearing the seal of the vice-president of the United States, was signed by both JD and Usha Vance.
The couple also thanked the medical teams that cared for Usha and the newborn.
"The incredible military doctors and staff members of Walter Reed Medical Center and the White House Medical Unit have been a blessing. We are deeply thankful for all they have done for our family," they said.
Alec is the couple's fourth child and their third son. The Vances already have two sons, Ewan, 9, and Vivek, 6, and a daughter, Mirabel, 4. They have largely kept their children away from public view.
Their previous child was born in December 2021, when JD Vance was campaigning for a US Senate seat from Ohio. The couple announced in January that they were expecting another son.
The birth also marked a rare event in American political history. The last vice-president known to have had a child while serving in office was Schuyler Colfax. His son, Schuyler Colfax III, was born in 1870.
Before Colfax, Vice-President John C. Calhoun welcomed a son, William, in 1829.
JD Vance, 41, became the third-youngest person to be sworn in as US vice-president. The Republican leader has emerged as one of the most prominent figures in President Donald Trump's administration.
Usha Vance had earlier spoken publicly about whether the couple might expand their family. Asked about the possibility during an interview last year, she said: "Never say never."
Born Usha Bala Chilukuri, the second lady is the daughter of Indian immigrants and was raised in California. Her family traces its roots to Andhra Pradesh, giving the arrival of Alec Neel Vance particular resonance among Indian Americans.
Usha and JD Vance met while studying at Yale Law School and married in 2014.
— IANS
Reader Comments
It's amazing how the Vance family is growing! JD Vance is only 41 and already VP with four kids - that's quite a balancing act. Makes me wonder how they manage public life with young children. Kudos to Usha for handling pregnancy in the spotlight, and to the medical teams at Walter Reed.
Nice to see Indian roots celebrated in international news. Usha Chilukuri's family from Andhra Pradesh - that's our culture reaching the highest levels! But I have to question: why is this front-page news? Many working women have babies every day. Still, happy for the family. 😊
Historic moment! 150 years since the last VP had a baby in office - that puts things in perspective. The US political system really does have a family-first approach sometimes. Hope little Alec grows up healthy and happy!
As an Indian-American myself, this brings a smile. Usha Vance represents so many of us - first-generation children of immigrants who made it big. The name Alec Neel Vance perfectly blends her heritage with American identity. But I hope the media focuses on policy issues too, not just personal milestones.
Congratulations to the Vances! Four kids under 10 - that's a handful even without being VP! JD Vance went from author to senator to VP in record time. This humanizes him a bit. Wish them all the best with their growing family.
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