That’s Mrs. Vance is bad.
Second Lady Usha Vance took the New York Times to task after an article commented on the “political significance” of her pregnancy — including the dress she wore on her podcast show “Storytime with the Second Lady.”
Mrs. Vance made history as Second Lady as the first spouse of a vice president to expect a child since 1870. The last wife of a vice president to become pregnant was Ellen Colfax, wife of Vice President Schuyler Colfax.
Vance, who is expecting her fourth child with the Vice President, responded to the NYT after it highlighted messages surrounding pregnant women prominent in the Trump administration.
Most notably, Katie Miller, wife of White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt. All three women announced the pregnancy within weeks of each other.
New York Times fashion critic Vanessa Friedman wrote the essay, “The Politics and Power of the Pregnancy Image.”
Friedman writes, “That the three most prominent women in the MAGA movement were pregnant at the same time, was nothing more than a coincidence. But for managers with the intuitive and strategic understanding of the power of beauty that the unspoken dress code by which men dress the image of the president has been formed, and has become something telling.”
“Together, the women created a consistent, and somewhat volatile, image of the White House family and reproductive stage,” Friedman added.
But that’s not where Vance came in. She went right to Friedman’s line about the Second Lady, “wearing a stretchy coral dress that hugged her stomach.”
The author was referring to an Instagram Reel posted by the Second Lady promoting an interview with her husband, Vice President JD Vance, during a special Father’s Day episode of the ‘Second Lady Story Time’ podcast.
In a post on X, the Second Lady wrote, “Now that we know the political significance of my $8.75 coral maternity dress from Old Navy, I can’t wait to hear what the New York Times has to say about my elastic-waistband pants and compression socks!”
“For now, enjoy my pregnancy fashion (or lack thereof) and a great story with your kids during The Story of Second Lady,” added Vance.
To really lock it down, Vance added a “slip,” which was just a screenshot of Old Navy’s website highlighting the maternity dress, which was priced at just $8.75.
Supporters flooded the post with one user writing, “Great response! Thank you Second Lady Vance. You are truly a great role model;-) Praying for a healthy pregnancy and delivery.”
Another fan chimed in, “You make $8.75 look like a million!
The post also shared the full podcast on YouTube, a children’s show featuring Usha Vance reading a variety of stories aloud and special guests. The first episode was titled “The Tale of Peter Rabbit” by Beatrix Potter.
The YouTube channel description reads, “Designed to inspire a lifelong love of reading, each episode features The Second Princess and a special guest to share beloved children’s stories in an engaging and accessible way for families.”
