'My Hindu ancestors were oppressed': Indian-origin Christian MAGA activist 'caught lying' in support of JD Vance

The row over JD Vance's comment on his wife Usha Vance's religion did not end with Vance clarifying that he's well aware that Usha has no intention to convert to Christianity, but spiraled into a major debate over Christianity and Hinduism. Indian-origin MAGA commentator Dinesh D'Souza was called a liar as he jumped into JD Vance's support and claimed that every true Christian wants their spouses to follow their faith and it's only an expression of love. In the process of his defence, D'Souza said his ancestors in India were probably low-caste Hindus who were treated horribly and chose to convert to Christianity. Social media users pointed out that in his book 'Becoming American', D'Souza wrote that his grandfather told him that their ancestors were Brahmin.

"Maybe my ancestors were low-caste Hindus who were being horribly treated and found it less oppressive to become Christians. Your ancestors, perhaps, were the ones oppressing them. No surprise they didn’t “fold.” As with slave-owners, the caste system was working well for them," D'Souza wrote, taking part in the ongoing debate.

No, Dinesh — my ancestors were simple farmers who had no caste advantage. They toiled in their fields, reared cattle, and raised families on their land.

Their lives were turned upside down when they told the Portuguese to buzz off, because the fairy tales the Portuguese brought…

— Sandeep Neel (@SanUvacha) November 1, 2025

As social media users caught him lying, he said what he wrote in his book was probably not true. "This is what my grandfather said at one time but my siblings and I took it to be a worthless boast. In reality, we concluded, he had no idea," he said.

This is what my grandfather said at one time but my siblings and I took it to be a worthless boast. In reality, we concluded, he had no idea.

— Dinesh D'Souza (@DineshDSouza) November 2, 2025

What is the Christianity-Hinduism row JD Vance triggered?

Vice President JD Vance, a baptized Catholic, recently said that he hopes one day his wife Usha Vance would choose his religion and convert. Usha Vance is an Indian-origin Hindu, belonging to a devout Telugu family. The comment was seen as Vance undermining the Hindu religion that his wife follows, and considering it inadequate. The Vice-President addressed the controversy and confirmed that his wife has no intention to convert to Christianity, but there is nothing wrong with a Christian hoping that their spouse would convert.

D'Souza weighed in and said, unlike Hinduism, Christianity is a religion of conversion like Islam.