US Vice-President J D Vance Wednesday visited the Taj Mahal in Uttar Pradesh’s Agra along with his wife and three children as part of his four-day visit to India.
The US vice-president, his wife Usha Vance, and sons Ewan and Vivek, and daughter Mirabel landed in the morning in Agra from Jaipur, and were received by Uttar Pradesh Chief minister Yogi Adityanath.
“The Taj Mahal is amazing. A testament to true love, human ingenuity, and a tribute to the great country of India. Thank you!” Vance wrote in the visitors’ book at the Taj Mahal.
Nitin Singh, the guide who took the US second family around the Mughal-era monument, said the visit lasted about an hour and ten minutes. At the Royal Gate, Singh said he explained the history of the Taj Mahal, including who built it, when it was built, why it was constructed, and how many years it took to complete.
A warm welcome to Hon’ble US @VP Mr. @JDVance, and his family to Uttar Pradesh, the sacred heartland of India, renowned for its timeless devotion, vibrant culture, and spiritual legacy. pic.twitter.com/JDJPRB7C7M
— Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) April 23, 2025
The family then spent some time getting their photographs clicked, and then moved inside to the main mausoleum, where the conversation shifted to architecture, Singh said.
Usha Vance, a History graduate, asked Singh detailed questions about the stones used in the construction of the 17th-century monument, the marble inlay work, the architectural style, and the sources of the materials.
During the visit, Singh said Vance told him, “‘I’ve been to many places in the world, but this is the most beautiful structure I have ever seen’.”
“His middle son, Vivek, was curious about how marble was transported from distant locations for the construction of the monument. I told him elephants transported it. He told me he had seen elephants at the Amer Fort yesterday,” Singh said.
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The Vance family said they would like to return when the weather is better, ideally to visit the Taj Mahal at sunrise.
“The Vice President also inquired about who served as the guide for former President Donald Trump during his visit. So, I told him I had taken the President around,” Singh added.
According to Singh, Vance also expressed hope that this visit would inspire more American tourists to come to the Taj Mahal.
The family left Agra for Jaipur immediately after visiting the Taj Mahal. JD Vance and his family arrived in Delhi Monday on a four-day visit that came weeks after President Donald Trump imposed and then paused a sweeping tariff regime against around 60 countries, including India.
Vance’s India visit will conclude on Thursday.