JD Vance, a prominent figure among Trump’s supporters, was seen enjoying himself immensely as the former President took jabs at political rivals. Captured in several photographs, JD was all smiles while holding his daughter and sharing laughs with the audience. In stark contrast, his wife Usha Vance appeared notably less amused, with one picture showing her standing a few feet away from her husband, sporting a solemn expression as she gazed ahead.

Prior to the jovial moments with his colleagues, JD and Usha’s arrival at the turkey pardon event hinted at a disconnect. Walking through the White House Rose Garden for the Thanksgiving tradition, JD carried their daughter, while Usha lagged behind by several feet. This apparent distance followed a recent public event where Usha was spotted without her wedding ring, adding fuel to ongoing speculation about their relationship.

The buzz around JD and Usha’s marriage intensified after JD was seen embracing Erika Kirk at a Turning Point USA event in late October. The widely circulated photos showed Erika, widow of Charlie Kirk, holding JD’s head in a close hug, sparking rumors about potential marital strife for the Vances.

Despite this explanation, recent interactions between JD and Usha suggest there might be more beneath the surface. While the turkeys at the event received their pardon, it seems JD might still be working his way out of the metaphorical dog house.

A few weeks later, Usha caused a stir when she showed up at a military base with Melania Trump on November 19 and opted to leave her wedding ring at home. The subtle move was picked up by people on X. X users offered theories to explain why Usha — who usually wears her wedding ring — went ringless. “This is a test run. Women often do this after public embarrassment. People didn’t like the body language w/ Erika and JD, Usha suffered. Now it’s HIS turn to be embarrassed,” one wrote. Rumors became so rampant that JD’s wife offered an excuse as to why she had no wedding ring while visiting the military base. As a spokesperson told People, the demands of motherhood caused the second lady to leave her ring behind. “[Usha is] a mother of three young children, who does a lot of dishes, gives lots of baths, and forgets her ring sometimes,” the rep told the outlet on November 22.

Just a few days later, though, her behavior with JD has us wondering if there’s more to the story. Based on what we saw, the turkeys may have been pardoned, but JD is still in the dog house.