Fact Check: People did not chant “India, India” when Trump’s running mate JD Vance arrived at RNC
On July 15, at the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee, Donald Trump announced JD Vance as his vice-presidential candidate.
Claim :
People are chanting "India, India" as Donald Trump’s running mate JD Vance arrived at the RNC with his Indian wife, Usha Chilukuri.Fact :
The video was altered. No such chants were raised at the event.
On July 15, at the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee, Donald Trump announced JD Vance as his vice-presidential candidate. Vance greeted the delegates at the convention with his wife, Usha, who is of Indian origin. JD Vance has often credited Usha for her support in his success. During a 2020 interview on The Megyn Kelly Show, Vance described his wife as a "powerful female voice" guiding him. "Usha definitely brings me back to earth. If I get a little too cocky or a little too proud, I remind myself that she's way more accomplished than I am," he said at the time.
TV9 Bharatvarsh also uploaded a video titled "JD Vance's Connection with India." In the video, the anchor elaborates on how JD met Usha and how their relationship led them to marriage.
Mary Margaret Olohan, a senior reporter at The Daily Signal, shared a video clip on her X account with the caption, "@JDVance1 describes how his wife Usha, who is Hindu, encouraged and supported him in his search for his own Christian faith."
In the backdrop, a video went viral on social media. In the video, we see JD Vance entering a ceremony with his wife, Usha. In the audio, we hear chants of "India... India..." as if someone is cheering.
Users from different social media platforms shared the video with the claim, "United States of India. Listen to the chants."
While another user shared the same video with the caption "India India" chants as JD Vance brings soon to be second lady Usha Chilukuri into the RNC convention”
Fact Check: We found the claim to be false; the audio is altered in the viral video.
During our search, we also found that Forbes Breaking News uploaded the same video in a live stream titled “The RNC Begins In Milwaukee, Wisconsin As Trump Announces JD Vance As VP Pick.” At 3:00:58 timestamp, we found the exact frame of the viral clip. In the live stream, we heard a country band playing instead of the "India... India..." chant.
We also found that the Wall Street Journal uploaded a trimmed version of the video on their YouTube channel with the title “J.D. Vance Is Nominated as Vice Presidential Nominee at the RNC.” In this video, we did not find any audio supporting the claim.
Basing on the above videos, we found the claim is false. The audio of the viral video is altered. In the original video, there is no "India...India...” chanting. Instead, a country band was playing behind.
