During a recent sit-down withย Fox & Friendsย hostย Ainsley Earhardt, Usha gave viewers a rare glimpse into her home life withย Vice President JD Vanceย and their children while launching her brand-newย Summer Reading Challenge for kids across America.
And while some viewers found the interview โawkward,โ others found it refreshingly real. One user on X put it best:
โUsha Vance is lovely, gracious, and intelligentโฆ and genuinely uncomfortable in interviews. I appreciate that. Itโs refreshing.โ
Usha, who grew up in a low-key household withย books scattered across every surface, shared how reading shaped her childhood, and now plays a central role in how she and JD raise their own kids.
โMy parents were hands-off, but they always encouraged us to learn,โย she said.ย โThey had books by the bedside, on the tables โ they led by example.โ
These days, her boys are fascinated withย insectsย (after a dinosaur phase), and their home is filled with books about creepy crawlies, even if some titles, she joked, arenโt ones sheโd personally pick up.
โThere are a lot of books in our house Iโd never read,โย she laughed.
Launched onย June 1, theย Second Ladyโs 2025 Summer Reading Challengeย invites kids in grades Kโ8 to readย 12 booksย byย September 5, tracking their titles, drawing or writing reflections, and submitting their forms for a chance to win prizes, including a trip toย Washington, D.C.
โAdventure, imagination, and discovery await โ right between the pages of a book,โย the challengeโs welcome letter reads.
Children who complete the challenge will receive aย certificate and small prize, and their entries will be placed into a national drawing. One winner, along with a parent or guardian, will be invited to visit the capital (pending security vetting, of course).
โMy goal is to come up with small ways I can use my platform to counteract big problems,โย Usha explained.ย โThis isnโt the end-all, be-all โ but itโs a start.โ
Usha says the program was partly inspired by her own upbringing and by theย nostalgiaย many parents feel for the summer reading challenges of their youth.
โI think a lot of us grew up doing these,โย she said.ย โBut Iโm not aware of one thatโs equally accessible to children across the country.โ
The program is free, simple, and open to all. Aย PDF packetย on the White House site explains the rules, includes a log sheet, and wraps up with, yes, a very legal-sounding waiver that reminded some online readers of aย science fair meets Capitol Hill.
Second Lady Usha Vance & First Lady Melania Trump ๐๐ค pic.twitter.com/tlHLAyoYEf
โ FLOTUS Report (@MELANIAJTRUMP) May 23, 2025
But Ushaโs tone throughout the interview remained measured and sincere. And sheโs focused not on PR buzz, but on impact.
โWe hope youโll join us this summer,โย the letter concludes.ย โLet the reading adventures begin!โ
Bottom line?ย Usha Vance may not crave the spotlight, but sheโs using her platform to shine one on something that matters.
And if that makes for an awkward TV clip? Honestlyโฆ
