New Delhi, April 21, 2025 – US Vice President JD Vance arrived in New Delhi on Sunday for a three-day visit, his first to India, accompanied by wife Usha Chilukuri Vance and their children, Ewan, Vivek, and Mirabel, who donned ethnic attire at a Taj Mahal photo-op. The trip, aimed at deepening US-India ties amid a 245% US tariff war with China, includes meetings with PM Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, per NDTV. Vance’s itinerary spans Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur, with a focus on trade and defence (Times of India).
Modi greeted Vance at Hyderabad House, praising his “commitment to global cooperation” as they discussed semiconductors, AI, and Indo-Pacific security (The Indian Express). Usha, of Andhra Pradesh descent, joined cultural events, with their kids’ kurta-pyjama look charming X users—“Vance family’s desi vibe!” (X post). The visit follows Modi’s April 18 call with Elon Musk, signaling India’s tech pivot as Tesla eyes a $2 billion factory (Hindustan Times). “India’s our anchor against China,” Vance said, per Times of India, eyeing $500 billion in bilateral trade by 2030.
X buzzes with excitement—“JD’s here for business!”—but some question motives: “Just tariff politics?” (X post). India’s $77.5 billion US exports, spared at 10% tariffs, contrast China’s trade choke (Business Standard). Vance’s 2024 campaign sparked debate—his “Hindu values” nod to Usha’s roots clashed with past migration critiques (The Hindu). India’s 3 lakh US students and 90 crore digital users see opportunity, but 2024’s 7% jobless rate demands local gains (NSSO).
For India’s 140 crore, it’s a diplomatic high—will Vance’s visit cement ties, or just flash cultural flair?
