Vice President JD Vance revealed the emotional story behind the decision to have a fourth baby following Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
While discussing a passage from his new book, “Communion,” during an interview with The Blaze’s Allie Beth Stuckey, Vance revealed the exact moment he found out his wife, Usha Vance, was pregnant and reflected on the years-long conversations the couple had about expanding their family.
“So this has been an ongoing conversation as it has with all families with a lot of kids. And you know I remember when we had our first kid, and you go from 0 to 1, and I was like, I am never doing this again. It was such a shock to the system; it was crazy. And I think our oldest was a little bit tougher as a baby. And then we had number two and number three, and now I am like, I want to have nine kids.” (RELATED: Vance Warns Israel It Can’t Kill Its Way Out Of Every Conflict)
Vance, a devout Catholic, joked that “it takes two to tango,” explaining that the decision was ultimately up to both parents. He said the now-40-year-old Second Lady had concerns about another pregnancy, particularly as it becomes more physically demanding with age and under intense public scrutiny.
According to Vance, Usha Vance had expressed that while she would love to have a fourth child, she was uncertain about going through another pregnancy in the spotlight.
“And it’s been an ongoing conversation for a couple of years.”
JD Vance deals with the White House press corps: pic.twitter.com/QTkxHgiZ0Y
— Reagan Reese (@reaganreese_) June 18, 2026
The Vice President told Stuckey he would never forget the timing of the discussion that ultimately changed his mind, noting that Charlie Kirk was assassinated the day before Sept. 11. Vance had been scheduled to travel to New York City for a 9/11 memorial event, but instead flew to Utah on the morning of Sept. 11 to retrieve Kirk’s body and accompany Erika Kirk and the family back to Arizona.
Reflecting on that trip, Vance said one moment in particular stayed with him.
He recalled seeing Kirk’s widow and feeling at a loss for words.
“What could possibly be said? You want to say something profound; there is nothing to say.” (RELATED: Vance Fires Back At Israeli Cabinet Members Targeting Trump Over Iran Deal)
Vance said he has noticed an “oscillation” in grieving people between overwhelming sadness and moments when they begin sharing cherished memories.
“We talked with Erika for a while, of course about Charlie, and then she makes the observation through her tears that she wishes they would have had more kids,” noting Kirk’s children had stayed with them many times.
“For me at least that’s what really drove it home. I don’t know if it had the same effect on Usha, but Usha’s much more analytical about this stuff and was getting there in her own way, but for me it was like we have to have a fourth baby and she got pregnant like six weeks later.”
Stuckey later asked whether Vance remembered the exact moment he learned Usha was pregnant. (RELATED: ‘Folks Are Frustrated’ — JD Vance Addresses Fractured GOP In Megyn Kelly Sit-Down)
Vice President JD Vance shares the exact moment he found out Usha was pregnant with their fourth child.
“I came home pretty late that night. I go to the bathroom to take off my suit, and there’s one of the instant tests there with a positive. And that was how Usha told me. I… pic.twitter.com/X9tnlA3fWC
— Allie Beth Stuckey (@conservmillen) June 19, 2026
“I do actually because I want to say it was a pretty late night, and I go to the bathroom to take off my suit, and there’s like one of the instant tests there with a positive. And that was how Usha told me, and yeah, I remember I was so excited.”
The vice president’s remarks offered a deeply personal glimpse into how a tragedy that profoundly affected his family also shaped one of the most significant decisions of his life.