Usha Vance calls out New York Times for commenting on her 'body-hugging' maternity wear

Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance.

Second Lady Usha Vance this week spoke out after the top fashion critic at The New York Times delivered some choice words in a column about Vance's maternity wear selections, and showed the second lady cheekily provided receipts.

Vance was responding to a column by Vanessa Friedman, the chief fashion critic at the Gray Lady, that attempted to deconstruct the meaning behind Vance's maternity clothing, as well as the maternity style of White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, and Katie Miller, the wife of Trump adviser Stephen Miller. Both of them have given birth in recent weeks. 

Friedman mentioned the Father's Day episode of the second lady's podcast, and searched for meaning in her attire for the episode, which, at a glance, appeared to be a rather straightforward maternity dress. "She is wearing a stretchy coral dress that hugs her stomach, making what she is talking about very clear." Friedman titled the column "The Politics and Power of the Pregnancy Image."

Vance took a jab back at Friedman, writing 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! In the meantime, enjoy my pregnancy fashion (or lack thereof)."

The second lady also posted a receipt showing the dress was an asymmetrical shoulder maxi dress purchased from Old Navy. Vance had picked up the item on sale and applied a promo code for an additional discount, bringing the total she paid for the dress to $8.75. The vice president got in on the fun posting on X Thursday that "She bought a $50 dress for $8.75. America: meet your next director of the federal budget!"

Usha Vance is the first second lady since 1870 to be pregnant while her husband is in office. Her due date is late July and the baby will be the couple's fourth child. They are expecting a boy. Although the column by Friedman wasn't overtly hostile, it struck a nerve with many who have been critical of how Vance, as well as Leavitt and Miller, were portrayed. Watch the video below for more on the reactions.