‘Here’s the receipt’: Usha Vance mocks NYT over ‘political significance’ of pregnancy fashion

WASHINGTON, DC: Second lady Usha Vance on Wednesday, June 24, publicly pushed back against a New York Times article that examined the political symbolism of pregnancy imagery among prominent women connected to the Trump administration. 

Vance responded on social media, questioning the political significance attributed to a maternity dress she wore in a recent Father's Day video.

The article discussed Vance alongside White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt and Katie Miller, the wife of White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, arguing that their public appearances during pregnancy reflected broader cultural and political themes.

Usha Vance mocks New York Times analysis

In the article, fashion critic Vanessa Friedman highlighted a coral maternity dress worn by the second lady and examined how pregnancy has featured in the public image of several women associated with the administration.

"That three such prominent women in the MAGA movement were pregnant at pretty much the same time was, indubitably, a coincidence," Friedman wrote. "But for an administration that has such an intuitive and strategic understanding of the power of aesthetics... it has also become a telling one."

The article argued that the three women had created "a notably consistent, and somewhat paradigm-shifting, picture of the White House’s family and fertility platform."

Discussing Vance specifically, Friedman wrote that "as second lady, her job is also to represent and humanize the vice president. By spotlighting her pregnancy, she is doing exactly that."

Vance responded in a post on X. "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 wrote.

She later followed up by posting a screenshot of the purchase receipt, showing that the dress had been marked down from $49.99 and further reduced through promotional discounts.

Article also spotlighted Karoline Leavitt, Katie Miller

The article also focused on White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt and Katie Miller, both of whom recently welcomed children. Friedman argued that the women had openly embraced maternity fashion during public appearances and on social media.

"Forget the maternity muumuu. Forget body-con. This is baby-con. In case you missed it, the hand serves to focus the eye," Friedman wrote.

Alongside her response, Vance encouraged followers to watch her "Storytime with the Second Lady" program and jokingly referenced what she described as her limited interest in fashion.

The exchange comes as Vance prepares to welcome the couple's fourth child. In January, she and the vice president announced they were expecting a baby boy later this summer.

"We’re very excited to share the news that Usha is pregnant with our fourth child, a boy," the family said in a statement at the time. "Usha and the baby are doing well, and we are all looking forward to welcoming him in late July."