Usha Vance Posted About Reading To Kids And Got Absolutely Dragged In The Replies

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What to Know

01 Usha Vance has announced her second annual summer reading challenge.
02 The initiative is aimed at getting kids to read over summer vacation.
03 While some people are excited about it, others had a lot of negative things to say.

Usha Vance is encouraging children to read more books this summer, but critics of the Trump administration are urging her to read the room. Her second annual summer reading program is for kids in kindergarten to eighth grade. She announced the challenge on social media on June 1 and explained that participating is easy: all kids need to do is read 12 books over the summer, write the titles down, and then submit the reading log at whitehouse.gov/read. A lot of people in the comments seemed excited about the challenge.

Obviously, reading is great, and summer reading challenges are a fun way to get kids interested in books. But critics still had a lot of negative things to say about this particular initiative. The complaints had less to do with the summer reading challenge itself and more to do with the perceived hypocrisy of the Trump administration.

In a video shared on X and Instagram, Usha shared some details about the challenge.

She said participating is simple, and children who complete the challenge will receive a certificate, a bookmark, and “a fun prize.” They’ll also be entered to win a trip to Washington DC.

“This year’s reading challenge is extra special, as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of America’s founding,” Usha said in the video. “My kids and I will be reading lots of stories about our country’s history at home, and I hope you’ll join us. Reading is such a fun way to explore new places, make new friends, and watch history come alive. It’s one of my favorite things to do, and this summer, it can become one of yours too.”

Critics, however, felt that this was an interesting message coming from Usha, given that the Trump administration has targeted schools and libraries. “While I completely agree that people should read and read widely, I won’t be joining your challenge,” one critic wrote in response to Usha’s video. “Your husband and his keepers (Thiel, Heritage Foundation), along with the person he stands behind as 2nd (Trump) are systematically ruining this country. Their party bans books.”

“I think I’ll be reading all the books your fascist husband is banning in libraries,” another critic commented.

And someone else said, “If reading is such a national priority, why do many schools and libraries still struggle with funding and access to books?”

To be fair, a lot of the criticism was not directed at Usha, exactly.

While some critics called her complicit and hypocritical, a lot of the mockery and hate was directed at her husband, Vice President JD Vance, and his boss, President Donald Trump. For example, someone commented saying, “Why are you married to such a loser? A loser that literally kisses Trumps a– on the daily. Run, girl. Run!!” And another person wrote, “Blink twice if you need help Usha.”

JD also re-shared his wife’s summer reading challenge on X, and critics had a lot to say. Unsurprisingly, people made jokes about how members of the Trump administration might benefit from participating in the challenge, too, even though they don’t meet the requirements to do so.

“She should add the constitution to that list and you all need to read it,” someone commented.

The challenge might be especially beneficial to Trump himself, people joked. “Is your boss Trump going to be attending?” one critic wrote to JD. “Maybe get him up to third grade level?” And in a comment directed at Usha, someone said, “Good luck with that; Your husband’s boss hasn’t read 12 books in eighty YEARS (never mind eight weeks)!”

People also shared their reading recs.

“Have you read the Epstein files?” one critic wrote. “Might I also recommend: 1. Declaration of Independence 2. US Constitution 3. To Catch a Fascist by Christopher Mathias 4. How to Stand Up to a Dictator by Maria Ressa 5. Epstein Files,” someone else commented.

In a comment directed at JD, another critic said, “Did (Usha) recommend ‘Smart Women, Foolish Choices’?”

Because, after all, much of the criticism directed at Usha and her reading challenge is because of the person she’s married to. “Your wife seems to be a great lady,” a critic concluded. “She deserves so much better than you.”

READ NEXT: Jen Psaki Wants To Know If JD Vance’s Wife Is OK & Conservatives Are Fuming

Paige Sheffield (she/her)