British Muslim journalist Mehdi Hasan weighed in on Vice President JD Vance’s comments about his Indian-origin wife Usha’s Hindu faith, saying conservative Hindus who sided with Donald Trump’s MAGA movement are now realising that Christian nationalists are not their friends.
What is the row about?
In a recent interview, Vance said he hopes his wife, Usha — who grew up in a Hindu household — is “one day moved by the same thing that moved me in church.” His comments drew criticism for being dismissive of her religion and for echoing Christian nationalist rhetoric.The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) responded to Vance, urging him to reciprocate and engage with Hinduism if Usha is expected to follow Christian ideals.In a post on X, the organisation said Hinduism “doesn’t share the need to wish your spouse comes around to see things as you do in terms of religion,” describing it as “inherently inclusive and pluralistic.”HAF also pointed out the “outpouring of anti-Hindu sentiment online,” much of it from “explicitly Christian sources.”As uproar mounted, Vance hit back, calling the backlash “disgusting” and accusing detractors of “anti-Christian bigotry.” He defended himself, saying, “My wife encouraged me to re-engage with my faith… She is not a Christian and has no plans to convert, but like many interfaith couples, I hope she may one day see things as I do.”Vance was responding to a post that read: “It’s weird to throw your wife’s religion under the bus, in public, for a moment’s acceptance by groypers.”Hasan then joined the debate, replying to the Hindu Foundation and arguing that Vance’s remarks were a wake-up call for conservative non-Christian minorities.In a post on X, Hasan wrote: “Conservative Jews and conservative Hindus who threw in with Trump and the GOP are now belatedly realising what some of us tried to warn them: that the Christian nationalists of the MAGA GOP are not their friends.”
