JD Vance greets wife Usha with awkward gesture, fuelling same observation
The US Vice President has caused a major split online over the way he greeted his wife in a brand new viral video.
JD Vance appeared on his wife, Usha Vance's, popular YouTube series Storytime with the Second Lady this week (22 Jun)
By the admission of its creators, the weekly show was 'designed to inspire a lifelong love of reading', with each instalment bringing her together with a special guest 'to share cherished children's stories in an engaging and accessible format for families'.
Introducing her husband during the latest episode, a heavily pregnant Usha tells viewers: "I know from personal experience that today's special reader loves to read to kids. That's because I see him read books to our own kids every day.
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"That's right, today's special reader is my husband, Vice President of the United States, JD Vance."
Looking towards her other half, 40-year-old Usha smiles: "Thanks for joining us today, honey."
The Republican leader then replied with a wide grin, 'Of course, good to see you', before leaning forward and patting his hand down on Usha's lap twice.
The mother-of-three then briefly paused before continuing the conversation, asking Vance to detail his job responsibilities to younger viewers.
While the rest of the 20-minute episode continued without any issues, Vance's low-key gesture towards his wife immediately got viewers talking, many of whom compared the move to how an owner might greet their pet.
"Did she CRINGE when he patted her knee?" one X user wrote.
"Did he just 'tap' her like a dog?" another also questioned.
A third added: "Epic cringe alert. Who the f**k says 'Good to see ya' to their pregnant wife? She literally recoiled when he touched her knee."
Mocking the VP, a fourth continued: "'Good to see ya.' Who in the hell says that to his own wife? When was the last time he saw her?"
"I have never in my entire life of reluctant heterosexuality had a man slap my knee like that," another went on. "You can’t convince me these people know each other’s coffee orders, let alone have been intimate together."
On the other hand, however, a number of fans of the right-wing couple were quick to jump to their defence, imploring critics not to read too deeply into the situation.
"Can we just leave JD & Usha alone?" one begged. "Tapping your wife’s knee is not a romantic disqualifier."
Another question: "Do you and your boyfriend do it differently? I bet that would look weird to most of us, too."
"Wow, making fun of a couple who are about to celebrate the birth of their 4th child is cringe!" a third added.
A fourth went on: "Four babies and a twenty-year marriage- pretty sure they still dig each other, you goon."
Rhianna Benson