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NEED TO KNOW
Vice President JD Vance responded to speculation about his marriage to second lady Usha Vance in a recent interview with NBC News
Usha was spotted without her wedding ring recently, after the internet was already stirring over JD's viral hug with Erika Kirk in October
The vice president shared how he and his wife — who have been married since 2014 — have reacted to the rumors
Vice PresidentJD Vanceaddressed the growing speculation about his marriage to second ladyUsha Vance, which has been under the spotlight in recent months.
The VP, 41, spoke withNBC Newson Thursday, Dec. 4, during which he was asked for his reaction to internet rumors about his relationship.
"I think that we kind of get a kick out of it," JD said in response to headlines about Usha attending public events without her wedding ring.
"With anything in life, you take the good with the bad," he added. "You accept that there are some sacrifices and there are some very good things that come along with it, too. But our marriage is as strong as it's ever been, and I think Usha's really taken to it, and it's been kind of cool to see how she's developed and evolved in this new role."
Rumors first began to spread about JD's marriage after he shared anintimate embracewith Charlie Kirk's widow,Erika Kirk, at a Turning Point USA event on Oct. 29.
Internet commenters also latched onto a moment in which Usha, 39, wasseen without her ringwhile visiting Camp Lejeune, a military training facility in Jacksonville, N.C., alongside first ladyMelania Trumpon Nov. 19.
After photos from Usha's outing were published online, rumors of trouble in her marriage ignited on social media. Asked about the internet buzz, a spokesperson for the second lady — who rarely gives press interviews — shared in a statement to PEOPLE that Usha is "a mother of three young children, who does a lot of dishes, gives lots of baths, and forgets her ring sometimes."
JD and Ushashare three children: sons Ewan, 8, and Vivek, 5, and daughter Mirabel, born four years ago this month. The couple have been married since 2014.
JD addressed the ring incident in his interview with NBC News when the outlet asked if such reports affected the couple's relationship.
"It's funny," he replied. "I actually don't think that it's tough."
He added, "There are certainly ways in which it's difficult on the family. I'm not going to pretend that it isn't. But it's the sacrifice that we signed up for."
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JD shared another moment in which his wife realized she wasn't wearing her ring on her way to the White House after she took it off to take a shower.
"She was like, 'Oh, if I don't go back and get them, there's going to be some ridiculous psycho who talks about it on social media,' " the vice president told NBC. "And I was like, let them. It's not even worth the trip to run back upstairs. So we actually have a little bit of fun with it. And we thought that whole viral social media cycle was kind of funny."
The VP did not address his viral hug with Erika in his NBC interview, which similarly lit up social media with rumors the month prior.
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The moment took place at a Turning Point USA event seven weeks after theassassinationof Charlie. Erika paid tribute to her late husband before welcoming JD to the stage to speak.
"No one will ever replace my husband," Erika, 37, told the crowd. "But I do see some similarities of my husband in JD — in Vice President JD Vance. I do. And that's why I am so blessed to be able to introduce him tonight."
When JD walked out, he and Erika hugged, then she placed her hand to the back of JD's head while he put his hands briefly on her waist. The moment spurred a flood of posts analyzing JD and Erika's hand placements and debating whether the hug was appropriate after Charlie's death and considering JD's marriage.
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Erika latershared her own defenseof the hug at aMegyn Kelly Liveevent on Saturday, Nov. 22.
"My love language is touch, if you will," she said, adding, "So I will give you a play-by-play: They just played the emotional video. I'm walking over, [JD] is walking over. I'm starting to cry.
"He says, 'I'm so proud of you.' And I say, 'God bless you,' and I touch the back of his head," she continued, referring to the vice president. "Anyone whom I have hugged, that I have touched the back of your head when I hug you, I always say, 'God bless you.' "
Kelly laughed, replying, "They were acting like you touched the back of his ass!" to which Erika agreed, saying, "I feel like I wouldn't get as much hate if I did that!"
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