The Marine chosen to bop with him JD Vance on the evening of his inauguration revealed that the fiftieth vice chairman joked backstage to “break the ice” and ease his nerves earlier than stepped on stage earlier than America.
SSgt. Lexus Martinez, 27 — a local New Yorker who works as a meals service specialist for the Washington-based Marine Corps Affiliate Program, which organizes and caters non-public occasions for high-ranking generals — credit the “luck” of being chosen to bop with the vice chairman. she informed The Submit on Wednesday.
“It felt surreal,” she considered being chosen.
“It was form of a cheerful second.”
Every department of the nation’s armed forces despatched a member to bop with President TrumpFirst Girl Melania Trump, Vance and second lady Usha Vance at Commander-in-Chief Ball on the Walter E. Conference Heart. Washington Monday evening.
Martinez, who arrived in D.C. in April after serving three years as a recruiter in Smithtown, N.Y., mentioned her division was chosen to discover a Marine to bop with Vance — and he or she was determined to use for the once-in-a-lifetime alternative.
The Brooklyn-born Marine realized she’ll be hitting the dance flooring with the brand new veep per week later, Friday earlier than Opening day.
On Sunday, she and the opposite chosen servicemen had a rehearsal with out Trump and Vanceso the nerves of the historic second did not hit her till she was ready backstage for the ceremony to start.
“President Trump and Vice President JD Vance walked by they usually simply needed to shake our palms, thank us for our service and get facial recognition for who they have been dancing with,” Martinez mentioned, after which the fiftieth vice chairman made a “actually humorous joke” that “broke the ice.”
“He mentioned, ‘Nicely, I hope you do not step on my toes.’ And I mentioned, “Nicely, I hope you may educate me the best way to dance up there,” they usually each shared a brief snicker.
“It made me really feel extra comfy,” Martinez mentioned. “He nonetheless has that Marine humor.”
Vance has served within the Marine Corps since 2003. till 2007 as a war correspondentwith one tour in Iraq earlier than leaving the service and utilizing the GI Invoice to attend Ohio State College.
He’s the daddy of three youngsters also the first veep to serve within the Marine Corps.
Throughout their dance, the couple talked about Martinez’s time within the Marines and the place she was stationed throughout her nine-year profession.
Earlier than she knew it, the track was over and he or she left extra assured than ever due to how down-to-earth Vance, 40, had been throughout their date.
“He acknowledged me as a Marine and was simply kidding me like that. It felt cool to only be myself as a result of within the Marines we’re all household it doesn’t matter what. You are a Marine 24/7,” she defined.
“I used to be speaking to somebody from the fraternity like we have been household already. It was all so pure.”
After the dance, Martinez and the opposite service members briefly returned to the stage to carry out ceremonial cake for Trump and Vance earlier than calling it an evening.
The Marine mentioned her mom, sister — “her greatest fan” — and two brothers in New York have been past proud to see their liked one on stage dancing with the vice chairman.
“My telephone blew up the second I obtained off the stage,” she mentioned, including that her “telephone continues to be bombarded” days after the ceremony by family and friends.
Martinez, who mentioned she is Puerto Rican and has “household all over the place,” was mobbed by relations “everywhere in the world” to specific how proud they have been of her.
“It actually introduced my household collectively rather a lot.”
