Overview
- On Tuesday, June 2, 2026, Second Lady Usha Vance told ABC News that Supreme Court justices and federal judges should be treated with respect and shown basic humanity.
- Vance cited her clerkships for Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh as the basis for her remarks and framed the issue as growing personalization of feelings toward judges.
- She did not name President Donald Trump when discussing attacks on the judiciary even though his recent public criticisms of specific rulings and judges have drawn attention.
- Media outlets differed in tone after the interview, with some portraying her comments as a general plea for civility and others suggesting the remarks implicitly contrasted with the president’s criticisms.
- The comments follow public warnings from Chief Justice Roberts about personally directed hostility and broader polling showing rising hostile political rhetoric, a dynamic that could shape public debate about the courts and political norms.