Who is Joy Reid? TV host who said JD Vance will leave ‘brown Hindu wife’ Usha for ‘white queen’ Erika Kirk

A podcast clip featuring commentator Joy Reid stirred a row after she suggested that JD Vance would eventually abandon his wife, Usha Vance, for slain MAGA commentator Charlie Kirk's wife, Erika Kirk.

Reid referred to Usha as a “brown Hindu wife” and Erika as a “white queen” and drew flak for racial undertones and for dehumanising an Indian-American woman who has largely stayed out of the public eye.Reid claimed on her podcast that “they can’t have the successor to MAGA be the guy with the brown Hindu wife.” She went on to say that the second lady “won’t work” with Christian nationalists and suggested JD Vance might “finally see the light that he needs a white queen instead of this brown Hindu.” Her comments come after months of speculation surrounding Usha Vance, who has been targeted by the MAGA base for her religion since Donald Trump named JD Vance as his running mate. GOP figures slammed Reid for reducing Usha to a racial and religious label instead of recognising her as a lawyer, a mother and an Indian-American navigating two faith traditions.The podcast segment also dragged Erika Kirk into the discussion, using her viral hug with JD Vance to fuel false claims about a supposed romantic episode involving the vice president and Erika.

Joy Reid is a TV host, political commentator, and author best known for anchoring The ReidOut on MSNBC. She built her reputation as an outspoken voice on race, politics, media, and the modern conservative movement. Before hosting her nightly show, she worked in local news, wrote political columns, and hosted weekend programmes for MSNBC. Reid often focuses on civil rights, voter suppression, and misinformation, and she’s known for challenging guests with direct, pointed questions.