Trump Praises 40-Year-Old Usha Vance on Children’s Book Podcast as JD Vance Tensions Linger
Updated
Updated · The Daily Beast · Jul 3
Trump Praises 40-Year-Old Usha Vance on Children’s Book Podcast as JD Vance Tensions Linger
3 articles · Updated · The Daily Beast · Jul 3
Summary
Trump joined Usha Vance on her “Storytime with the Second Lady” podcast to read—or mostly riff on—“Presidents Play!,” telling her she had become “so popular around the White House.”
The appearance stood out because Trump has reportedly been far colder toward Vice President JD Vance, privately warning in May that his No. 2 could be a “disaster” as a 2028 MAGA successor.
Usha Vance, 40, has kept a lower political profile in the second term, focusing on childhood literacy and youth arts while maintaining a friendly public relationship with Trump.
During the reading, Trump again improvised freely, calling John F. Kennedy the second most handsome president after himself and doubting Barack Obama’s basketball ability.
The episode adds to an unusual dynamic around the Vances, whose podcast guests and personal views have at times sat awkwardly alongside parts of the Trump administration’s agenda.