Donald Trump has announced that JD Vance’s wife Usha will lead a presidential delegation to Italy for the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics World Winter Games this weekend.
Usha, the Second Lady of the United States, is heading to the Italian city of Turin for the ceremony with seven other members of Trump’s administration – including Fox News host Rachel Campos-Duffy, wife of US Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy.
Boris Epshteyn, Trump’s senior advisor, and deputy director of presidential personnel Trent Michael Morse will also be part of the delegation.
The Special Olympics World Winter Games, which showcases athletes with intellectual disabilities from across the globe, takes place every two years and alternates between summer and winter editions.
This year’s opening ceremony will take place on Saturday 8 March at 12pm ET in Turin, where Usha and the delegation will represent the US at Inalpi Arena.
The American lawyer has been married to vice president Vance for 11 years after first meeting at Yale Law School in 2013. They also have three children together in Ewan, 7, Vivek, 5, and Mirabel, 3.
Donald Trump has chosen JD Vance’s wife Usha (right) to lead a presidential delegation to Italy for the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics World Winter Games
On Tuesday night Usha attended Trump’s Congress speech at the US Capitol, where she was seen sitting alongside ex-high school volleyball player Payton McNabb.
The president introduced McNabb – who claims to have suffered a concussion, brain damage, neck injury, and paralysis after being struck in the face with a ball by a transgender opponent – as he vowed to continue his crusade to get trans athletes removed from women’s sports.
Trump said: ‘I also signed an Executive Order to ban men from playing in women’s sports. Three years ago, Payton McNabb was an all star high school athlete, one of the best, preparing for a future in college sports.
‘But when her girls volleyball match was invaded by a male, he smashed the ball so hard in Payton’s face, causing traumatic brain injury. Partially paralyzing her right side and ending her athletic career.
‘It was a shot like she has never seen before, she has never seen anything like it. Payton is here tonight in the gallery and Payton from now on, schools will kick men of the girls team or they will lose all federal funding.’
While stood next to Usha, McNabb could be seen applauding Trump’s words before waving in his direction.
