Second Lady Usha Vance has responded to a commentary piece in The New York Times that discussed the "political significance" of her pregnancy and maternity fashion. Vance, who is expecting her fourth child, took to X (formerly Twitter) to share her thoughts after the Times article highlighted a "stretchy coral dress that hugs her stomach" that she wore on her podcast, "Storytime with the Second Lady."
Vance's jab at the publication included a screenshot of the dress from the Old Navy website, noting its price of $8.75. She captioned the post, "Now that we know the political significance of my $8.75 coral maternity dress from Old Navy, can’t wait to hear what the New York Times has to say about my elastic-waistband pants and compression socks!"
She added, "In the meantime, enjoy my pregnancy fashion (or lack thereof) and a good story with your kids on Storytime with the Second Lady."
The New York Times Article
The New York Times article, penned by fashion critic Vanessa Friedman, was titled "The Politics and Power of the Pregnancy Image." It discussed how prominent women within the MAGA movement, including Vance, Katie Miller, and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, announced pregnancies around the same time. Friedman suggested this created a "notably consistent, and somewhat paradigm-shifting, picture of the White House’s family and fertility platform."
Friedman noted that for an administration with a keen understanding of aesthetics, the simultaneous pregnancies of three prominent women could be seen as a "telling" development, even if coincidental.
"Storytime with the Second Lady"
Vance's podcast, "Storytime with the Second Lady," is a YouTube program designed to foster a love of reading in children. In the episodes, the Second Lady shares children's stories with special guests. The podcast is presented as an accessible format for families. The Father's Day episode featured Vice President JD Vance reading "The Tale of Peter Rabbit."