JD Vance Son: What Most People Get Wrong About the Second Family

You’ve probably seen the clips. A blonde-haired kid pacing around the Capitol with a teddy bear while the world watches his dad become Vice President. Or maybe you saw the headlines about the little boy playing with a presidential seal like it was a LEGO brick. That’s Vivek. Then there’s Ewan, the older brother, who seems to have a better handle on the chaos but still looks like he’d rather be literally anywhere else.

Life as the JD Vance son isn’t exactly normal.

Most people think being the child of the Vice President is all private jets and fancy suits. Honestly? It’s mostly just trying to be a kid while men in earpieces watch you eat your cereal. JD and Usha Vance have three kids: Ewan, Vivek, and their daughter Mirabel. But the boys, specifically, have become these accidental viral stars.

The Viral Inauguration Moments

During the 2025 inauguration, Vivek Vance basically became the internet’s favorite person for about forty-eight hours. While the adults were busy with the transfer of power, the four-year-old was busy being a four-year-old. He was caught on camera resting his head on a barrier, looking profoundly bored.

He didn't care about the optics.

At one point, he was seen pacing back and forth with a teddy bear. People on X (the platform formerly known as Twitter) started calling him "America's Prince Louis." It’s a pretty fair comparison. Like the British royal, the Vance kids have this way of humanizing these massive, stiff political events.

Ewan, who is now eight, was also there. He’s the oldest. You can tell he’s starting to get it. He looks a bit more stoic, a bit more aware that people are pointing cameras at him. But even he had his moments of "can we go home now?" during the long indoor parade at Capital One Arena.

Raising Ewan and Vivek in an Interfaith Home

One thing people get wrong is how the family handles religion. JD is a devout Catholic. Usha was raised Hindu. When you're the JD Vance son, your Sundays look a little different than the average kid's.

Vance opened up about this in late 2025. He mentioned that he and Usha decided to raise the kids Christian, but there's a deep respect for Usha's heritage. In fact, Ewan just had his First Communion recently. JD spoke about how proud the boy was.

But it’s not just about church. Last year, the family traveled to India to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The boys were dressed in traditional kurta-pajamas. Ewan was apparently fascinated by the Indian Air Force medals, and Vivek was just doing his thing—being high-energy and playful. It was a diplomatic visit, sure, but for them, it was probably just a very long flight to see some cool outfits.

A Typical Day at the Naval Observatory

Since moving into Number One Observatory Circle (the official VP residence), the family has tried to keep things low-key. JD has said he wants to "deliver as much normalcy" as possible.

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• Privacy: The Naval Observatory is way more isolated than their old place in Cincinnati. This means the boys can run around outside without a dozen long-lens cameras catching every stumble.
• The "Secret Service" Friends: Vivek apparently thinks the Secret Service agents are just built-in playmates. To a five-year-old, having a group of serious-looking guys following you around is just part of the game.
• School Life: The older boys attend a Christian school in the D.C. area. They’re trying to keep the "fishbowl" effect to a minimum.

The "Oh, The Places You'll Go" Moment

If you want to understand the vibe JD has with his kids, you have to look back at February 2024. Before he was VP, he was a Senator. He stood on the Senate floor and used his time to wish Vivek a happy 4th birthday.

He actually read Oh, The Places You'll Go! by Dr. Seuss into the official record.

He told Vivek, "Daddy loves you very much," because he was stuck in D.C. for a late-night vote and was missing the birthday dinner. It was a rare moment where the "Hillbilly Elegy" author dropped the political persona and was just a dad who felt guilty about missing a milestone.

Balancing the Spotlight

It’s gotta be weird. One day you’re in Cincinnati playing in the backyard, and the next, you’re on a stage in front of millions.

JD and Usha seem to be protective, but they don't hide the kids entirely. They’ve shared photos of the family at the Ohio State Fair and glimpses of their life at the Naval Observatory. But you won't see the kids in every campaign ad. They’re trying to draw a line.

Honestly, the biggest challenge for the JD Vance son isn't the politics—it's the schedule. JD has joked that Mirabel (the youngest) has no idea what’s going on, while Ewan is starting to feel the weight of it.

Moving Forward with the Second Family

As we move through 2026, expect to see the Vance kids popping up at major events, but don't expect them to be "political" figures. They’re just kids living in a very famous house.

If you're looking for ways to handle your own family's transitions—even if they don't involve the White House—here are a few takeaways from how the Vances seem to be managing it:

1. Prioritize Routine: Even in the Naval Observatory, the kids have a set school schedule and "normal" bedtime rituals.
2. Keep the Heritage: Whether it’s attending a First Communion or wearing traditional Indian attire, keeping both parents' backgrounds alive helps kids feel grounded.
3. Find "Secret" Spaces: The Vances use the privacy of their residence to ensure the kids aren't always "on." If you’re in a public-facing job, finding a space where your kids can just be messy and loud is vital.

The reality of being the JD Vance son is a mix of high-stakes diplomacy and typical toddler tantrums. While the world analyzes every move JD makes, Ewan and Vivek are probably just wondering when they get to have dessert.