I'm not his staffer: Usha Vance on marriage, politics and open debate with JD Vance

Being married to the US Vice President does not mean toeing the same political line, according to Usha Vance. The Second Lady of the United States said differences with her spouse often lead to more meaningful conversations.

Speaking exclusively to NBC News ahead of her podcast debut, Usha Vance said, "I’m not his staffer. I’m not involved in this in any professional sense There’s no expectation that we are going to see eye to eye on everything."

She drew a clear line between her role as a spouse and the Vice President’s political team. "The expectation is that we are going to be open-minded and have a conversation," she said, adding that even disagreements are "always very productive."

Usha Vance described herself as a trusted confidante rather than an adviser, saying she offers perspective "from someone who loves him and wants him to succeed."

The second lady said conversations between the couple are frequent and often personal. "There are conversations all the time," she said, explaining that she tries to understand "what’s going on in his world" to better support him.

While the Vice President has policy advisers, she said he turns to her when issues are "troubling" or "important personally."

2028 PRESIDENTIAL RUN NOT A PRIORITY

Despite speculation around a potential presidential run by her spouse, Usha Vance said future ambitions are not focus of their discussions. "That’s not the priority in our conversations," she said.

She also reflected on her political journey, saying she has never felt pressure to conform ideologically. "I was myself in 2014. I can be myself today," she said, adding that her views don’t always fit neatly into one political camp.

The couple is expecting their fourth child, a boy, in July. Usha Vance said she does not feel pressure despite being the first Hindu second lady, calling her role "novel" in many ways.

The US Second Lady launched her 'Storytime with the Second Lady' as part of efforts to increase child literacy rates and encourage reading among kids. “It’s a podcast that really is just for children,” she said, explaining that it is designed to encourage reading through storytelling and conversations.

Vance said the idea stemmed from teaching her own children to read, as well as concern over declining literacy levels. "If I was going to do anything, this would be the thing to focus on," she said.

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