Second Lady Usha Vance kept her composure after nearly losing her footing on a staircase while carrying her newborn son.
The 40-year-old wife of Vice President JD Vance was stepping off a Marine Two helicopter at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Monday with two-month-old Alec secured in a chest carrier when she briefly stumbled.
Usha was dressed in a plaid, high-waisted skirt, a brown top and knee-high heeled boots when she missed a step while leaving the aircraft.
She quickly grabbed the staircase railing, steadied herself and continued with a smile.
The guards waiting at the foot of the stairs remained in place as she recovered from the stumble.
Video of the incident was posted to X and quickly went viral, prompting viewers to praise the mother of four for handling the awkward moment calmly.
‘She missed a step, caught herself and seemed to joke about it with the officers—all while carrying a newborn,’ one user wrote admiringly.
Other viewers, however, criticized the men nearby for not stepping forward to assist when she lost her balance.
Second Lady Usha Vance maintained her composure after nearly falling on a set of steps while holding her newborn son
Usha Vance, 40, briefly lost her balance while leaving a Marine Two helicopter at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, with her two-month-old son, Alec, secured in a carrier against her chest
‘Not one person moved to help,’ another viewer posted.
‘Why did no one help her down? She had a baby with her,’ a separate commenter asked.
‘None of those men moved an inch to assist her. Shocking,’ a fourth person wrote.
A fifth commenter added: ‘And none of those dorks rushed in to help? WTF?’
JD Vance followed behind her, carrying the couple’s daughter in his arms.
The couple were escorted from the helicopter to Air Force Two before departing for Alaska, where JD was scheduled to attend a campaign rally.
Usha and JD welcomed their fourth child in July.
‘We are excited to announce that our baby boy, Alec Neel Vance, was born this morning,’ JD wrote in announcing his son’s arrival.
Usha, wearing a plaid high-waisted skirt, brown top and knee-high heeled boots, quickly recovered after missing a step
She caught the staircase railing and regained her composure with a smile
JD exited the helicopter after her, holding their daughter in his arms. The couple were escorted from the aircraft to Air Force Two to travel to Alaska a campaign rally
Usha and JD welcomed their fourth baby back in July
‘Usha and the baby are happy and healthy, and our kids are overjoyed to meet their little brother.’
He went on to thank ‘the incredible military doctors and staff members of Walter Reed Medical Center and the White House Medical Unit,’ describing them as a ‘blessing.’
‘We are deeply thankful for all they have done for our family,’ he added.
The Vice President and Second Lady already share two sons, Ewan, nine, and Vivek, six, and a daughter, four-year-old Mirabel.