In an exclusive interview on “Fox & Friends,” Second Lady Usha Vance addressed a comment made by Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El‑Sayed that many observers described as a racially charged dig. El‑Sayed had suggested that Vice President JD Vance might take his wife back in time to meet his “Papaw,” implying that Vance’s grandfather would not have accepted her because of her Indian heritage.

Background of the exchange

The controversy began after Vice President Vance criticized El‑Sayed’s remarks on Sharia law during a rally in Ohio. Vance said El‑Sayed, the American‑born son of Muslim Egyptian immigrants, once argued that criticism of Sharia law was rooted in White supremacy. He added, “That’s not my Papaw’s Democratic Party, my friends.” El‑Sayed replied on social media, asking whether JD Vance was taking Usha back in time to meet his grandparents.

Usha Vance’s response

Usha Vance said she “kind of laughed” at the comment. “I never met JD’s Mamaw and Papaw, but I love the children they raised – his mother, aunt and uncle – and they have always been incredibly loving,” she told the morning show. She noted that while she has not met her husband’s late grandparents, his aunt has become a “second mother” to her, reinforcing the familial bond she feels with the Vance family.

El‑Sayed’s further remarks

El‑Sayed later expanded on his criticism in an interview with MS NOW, arguing that Vance’s line of questioning suggested a belief that some people are “more American than others” because they can point to an earlier‑generation ancestor. He asked, “Why then do you look your parents‑in‑law in the eye and say they are less American than you?”

Family context

JD Vance was largely raised by his grandparents, James and Bonnie Vance, whom he calls “Papaw” and “Mamaw.” James died in 1997 and Bonnie in 2005. Usha and JD met while attending Yale Law School and married in 2014. In his 2016 memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy,” Vance expressed regret that his grandparents never had the chance to meet his wife.

Political implications

The exchange highlights ongoing cultural and religious debates within the 2026 Senate race in Michigan. While Vance has framed El‑Sayed’s stance on Sharia law as alien to his family’s values, El‑Sayed has portrayed the vice president’s remarks as an attempt to weaponize ancestry against his own heritage. The dialogue underscores how personal family histories are being used to illustrate broader policy disagreements.

Campaign response

El‑Sayed’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.