In a significant diplomatic episode for the Trump-Vance administration, Second Lady Usha Vance, a Yale graduate, reportedly played a pivotal role, as detailed in a new book. The book, titled “Retribution: Donald Trump and the Campaign That Changed America,” is penned by Jonathan Karl, ABC News’ Chief Washington Correspondent. According to Karl, Usha Vance, wife of Vice President JD Vance, was involved in discussions over a crucial minerals deal with Ukraine in February this year.

During deliberations over the minerals agreement, which involved Vice President JD Vance and President Donald Trump, concerns emerged about whether the proposal had undergone adequate legal scrutiny. As reported by Politico, JD Vance suggested, “I can have Usha take a look at it.” The Daily Mail has reached out to both the White House and Usha Vance’s representatives for comments. Karl elaborates on the situation, describing how the Vice President requested the Second Lady—who, like Steve Bannon, held no formal role on the National Security Council—to come to the West Wing to review a bilateral agreement that was slated for signing the following day.

Usha and JD Vance’s relationship dates back to their time as law students at Yale University. Usha has since worked as an associate attorney and served as a law clerk for the U.S. Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court. Ultimately, the minerals deal fell through after a contentious meeting in the Oval Office between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vice President Vance, which led to the agreement’s collapse.

Vance publicly dressed down Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for not being respectful enough to President Donald Trump during a dramatic Oval Office meeting at the White House back in February. At the time, the vice president launched into attack mode after he felt Trump was being disrespected by the Ukrainian president.

‘Mr. President, with respect, I think it’s disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office and try to litigate this in front of the American media,’ Vance said after Zelensky repeatedly interrupted and disputed statements made by Trump. A source familiar with the meeting at the White House told the Daily Mail at the time that Zelensky’s demeanor was surprising to American officials in the room.

‘No one expected the meeting to play out as it did, because nobody expected [him] to act that way,’ the source said. Vance noted that Biden stood up for four years and ‘talked tough’ while ‘thumping his chest’ but Putin invaded Ukraine anyway. ‘The path to peace and the path to prosperity is maybe engaging in diplomacy,’ he said back in February.