The impressive reflexes of Usha Vance were on display Monday.
The impressive reflexes of Usha Vance were on display Monday — in what has become both an image of a mother doing what mothers do best and an opportunity to discuss etiquette involving women, men, and stairs.
As you’ve likely seen by now, the Second Lady of the United States, Usha Vance, had what could have been a painful — even “terrifying,” I’ve seen in headlines — slip yesterday as she was making her way off Marine Two at the former Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. She recovered quickly with remarkable grace, with her newborn, Alec, strapped to her, and a bagful of baby necessities in tow.
"Usha and a couple of the kids are joining. This is Usha's 50th state, which is why we are bringing a nine week old baby on a seven and a half hour flight to Alaska."
— VP JD Vance pic.twitter.com/WbCIMeVW48
— Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) October 5, 2026
On some level it may seem ridiculous that there is widespread viewing and commentary on this incident en route to Alaska for a midterm rally for Republican Senator Dan Sullivan — especially since Mrs. Vance took control of the situation so quickly and impressively — but it hits close to home for anyone with or who has ever approached steps with young children. Further, the video of the incident making the rounds was strikingly jarring: She seemed to be surrounded by men and yet was on her own with a nine-week-old.
The men watching her had military protocol to abide by. Still, I want people to be disturbed seeing men not rush to the rescue of a woman. That’s not a commentary on the rules or the behavior of the men as much as it is a cultural gut-check more generally. I was on EWTN radio this morning talking about it where co-host Anna Mitchell said she was making sure her young sons know what to do when a woman is approaching steps: You offer an arm. She doesn’t need to have an infant in her arms. The mere fact of being in the presence of a woman by steps is enough to call a man to duty.
Angry secular feminism has no place in the renewal of our culture. Mr. Have-More-Babies JD Vance ought to make that clear somewhere down the line as the father of now three sons.
I think most of us noticed the Vances’ arrival at Fairbanks International Airport. Clearly, conversations had been had: The vice president was carrying Alec — hands on baby, not handrails — as they disembarked Air Force Two, and Mrs. Vance held their daughter Mirabel’s hand (only two of their four children accompanied them to the campaign rally). Mirabel turns five in December and will likely soon be getting used to her dad not carrying her as much as he naturally seems to love to. (Of course, Mirabel does not look pleased here by Daddy’s new priority.)
NOW: The Vance family lands in Anchorage, Alaska, aboard Air Force Two ahead of Vice President JD Vance's campaign stop for Sen. Dan Sullivan.
Second lady Usha Vance and daughter Mirabel are seen exiting the plane, while the vice president carries baby Alec as the family arrives… pic.twitter.com/NiqFrPL9er
— Fox News (@FoxNews) October 5, 2026
Once on the ground in the Last Frontier State (which sounds more sci-fi in these parts than it should), the vice president did address the obvious question: They were traveling with the littlest because this trip to Alaska checked off a 50th state for Usha.
Thanks to Usha Vance for her bodily sacrifice for a national lesson on what a well-mannered nation of men looks like. And how magnificent mothers are.