'Waiting for the breakdown on my compression socks': Second Lady mocks New York Times for analyzing her 'political' $9 maternity dress

Second Lady Usha Vance has fired back with a heavy dose of irony at The New York Times after the newspaper published a piece analyzing the "political significance" of her pregnancy—right down to the dress she wore on her podcast, Storytime with the Second Lady.

Usha Vance has already made history as the first spouse of a sitting U.S. Vice President to become pregnant while her husband is in office since 1870. The last to do so was Ellen Colfax, wife of Vice President Schuyler Colfax.

Vance, who is currently expecting her fourth child with Vice President JD Vance, hit back at the NYT article, which meticulously dissected the symbolism surrounding pregnant women within the Trump administration. The author highlighted three key figures who announced their pregnancies within weeks of each other: Usha Vance, Katie Miller (wife of White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller), and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

The White House 'Fertility Manifesto'

The article, titled "The Politics and Power of the Pregnant Silhouette," was penned by NYT fashion critic Vanessa Friedman. "That three such high-profile women in the MAGA movement became pregnant almost simultaneously is undoubtedly a coincidence. But for an administration that possesses such an intuitive and strategic understanding of the power of aesthetics (where men unconsciously mirror the president’s style), this coincidence has become highly revealing," Friedman wrote.

According to the critic, these women have collectively created a "strikingly consistent and somewhat paradigm-shifting portrait of a family- and fertility-focused White House platform."

However, what caught the Second Lady’s attention was a specific line by Friedman noting that Vance was dressed in a "stretchy coral dress, body-hugging her belly." The journalist was referring to an Instagram clip teasing a special Father's Day episode of the podcast, which featured JD Vance as a guest.

Usha Vance Fires Back with a Bargain Receipt

Usha Vance didn't let the critique slide, taking to X (formerly Twitter) to deliver a witty clapback. "Now that we finally know the political significance of my $8.75 coral maternity dress from Old Navy, I’m looking forward to what the New York Times has to say about my elastic-waist pants and compression socks! In the meantime—enjoy my 'maternity fashion' (or lack thereof) and a good story with the kids in the new episode."

To completely put the matter to bed, Vance attached "receipts" to her post—a screenshot from the Old Navy website confirming that her dress was indeed on sale for a mere $8.75.

Followers were delighted by the Second Lady's self-deprecating humor. "Brilliant response! You are an amazing role model," one user commented.