Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Jul 20: US Vice-President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance have welcomed their fourth child, becoming the first sitting US vice-president in more than 150 years to have a baby while in office.
The couple announced the birth of their son, Alec Neel Vance, on Sunday. He was born at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.
"We are excited to announce that our baby boy, Alec Neel Vance, was born this morning. Usha and the baby are happy and healthy, and our kids are overjoyed to meet their little brother," the couple said in a joint statement bearing the seal of the Office of the Vice-President.
They also thanked the medical staff who cared for the mother and child.
"The incredible military doctors and staff members of Walter Reed Medical Center and the White House Medical Unit have been a blessing. We are deeply thankful for all they have done for our family," the statement said.
Alec is the couple's fourth child and third son. JD and Usha Vance are already parents to two sons, Ewan, 9, and Vivek, 6, and a four-year-old daughter, Mirabel. The family has largely kept their children away from the public spotlight.
Their previous child was born in December 2021 while JD Vance was campaigning for the US Senate from Ohio. The couple announced in January this year that they were expecting another son.
The birth is also a rare event in American political history. The last sitting US vice-president known to have welcomed a child while in office was Schuyler Colfax, whose son, Schuyler Colfax III, was born in 1870. Before him, Vice-President John C. Calhoun welcomed a son, William, in 1829.
At 41, JD Vance became the third-youngest person to be sworn in as Vice-President of the United States and has emerged as one of the leading figures in President Donald Trump's administration.
Usha Vance, born Usha Bala Chilukuri, is the daughter of Indian immigrants and was raised in California. Her family traces its roots to Andhra Pradesh, making the birth particularly significant for many Indian Americans.
The couple met while studying at Yale Law School and married in 2014. Last year, when asked whether they planned to expand their family, Usha had replied, "Never say never."