On Sunday, Usha Vance, the second lady and wife of JD Vance, shared a video on her SLOTUS Instagram account about her upcoming trip to Greenland, where she’ll be attending a dog sled race.
The video shows Usha standing in front of a simple mantel with minimal decor. However, one item on the shelf caught attention: a book sitting in the top left corner of the screen. While many might have expected her husband’s book, “Hillbilly Elegy,” to be featured, it was actually “Earth in the Balance” by Al Gore, former Vice President under Bill Clinton.
Published in 1992, Gore’s book warned about the dangers of climate change, and in a 2006 reissue foreword, he wrote, “Global warming is real, it is getting worse rapidly, it is mainly caused by human beings, we need to act now to avoid the worst of its consequences.”
This view sharply contrasts with the stance of the Trump administration, which has often dismissed climate change, even calling it a “hoax.” Recently, President Trump rolled back regulations aimed at reducing methane pollution, and Lee Zeldin, head of the Environmental Protection Agency, has been eager to undo climate rules.
So why did Usha display Al Gore’s book? Could she be showing her support for addressing climate change?
Greenland is already feeling the effects of rising temperatures, with melting sea ice and “ice quakes.” The country is also no stranger to the Trump family’s presence, having recently hosted Donald Trump Jr. So, perhaps Usha wanted to subtly show that she shares concerns for the environment, especially during her trip.
In the video, Usha appeared cheerful and excited, saying she was “thrilled” to be attending the dog sled race and expressing her eagerness to build a stronger relationship with Greenland. She also shared her excitement about learning from the people of Greenland and experiencing their land, culture, and traditions.
Her tone contrasted sharply with her husband JD’s recent comments. In February, he told Fox News that if President Trump wanted to take a greater interest in Greenland, “that is what President Trump is going to do because he doesn’t care about what the Europeans scream at us, he cares about putting the interests of America’s citizens first.”
The book Usha displayed, Earth in the Balance, has the subtitle “Ecology and the Human Spirit.” In the introduction, Al Gore reflects on how the issue of climate change made him question not just the environment, but his own life choices.
Whether Usha paid attention to this deeper message in the book remains unknown, but it’s clear that the item on her shelf unexpectedly points to a viewpoint that contrasts with the typical MAGA stance.
Watch the clip below:
