Former President Donald Trump has chosen Senator J.D. Vance as his vice-presidential running mate for the upcoming election, but many are questioning this decision due to Vance’s past criticisms of Trump and his stance on LGBTQ+ issues.
VP J.D. Vance
At this year’s Republican National Convention (RNC), former President Donald Trump officially selected Ohio Senator J.D. Vance as his running mate for the upcoming presidential election.
Aligning With Trump
Vance was originally very critical of Trump during his first run as President, but Vance has recently aligned closer with Trump, participating in several campaign events and fundraisers.
J.D. Vance Early Life and Education
J.D. Vance was born in Middleton, Ohio, and served in the Marine Corps before attending Ohio State University, graduating, and finally ending his education at Yale Law School.
Life Before Politics
After graduating from Yale, Vance began his professional career as a corporate lawyer before transitioning to work in the tech industry as a venture capitalist and eventually entered politics in 2021 when he won an Ohio Senate Seat.
Hillbilly Elegy and Initial Criticisms
In 2016, Vance published “Hillbilly Elegy,” detailing his experiences growing up in poverty in the Rust Belt. During the 2016 election, Vance vocalized his disdain for Trump, labeling himself a “never-Trump guy.”
Past Comments on Trump
Vance’s past descriptions of Trump included calling him “America’s Hitler” and comparing him to former President Richard Nixon, highlighting the dramatic shift in Vance’s political alignment over the years.
Back and Forth
“I go back and forth between thinking Trump is… like Nixon, who wouldn’t be that bad (and might even prove useful) or that he’s America’s Hitler.” – J.D. Vance, text message during Trump’s 2016 campaign.
Changing Views on Trump
Despite his initial criticisms of Trump running for office in 2016, Vance apologized for his past remarks about Trump during a Fox News interview in 2021.
Regretting the Comments
In the 2021 Fox interview, Vance said, “I’ve been very open about the fact that I did say those critical things, and I regret them, and I regret being wrong about the guy.”
Endorsement and Senate Victory
With Trump’s endorsement, Vance was able to win the 2022 Ohio Senate primary and, not long after that, win the general election against Democrat Tim Ryan.
Time in the Senate
Vance’s time in the Senate has found him following the typical conservative decisions, including responding to the East Palestine train derailment and opposing aid to Ukraine.
Anti-LGBTQ+ Stances
In line with other conservatives, Vance has opposed same-sex marriage rights and introduced the “Protect Children’s Innocence Act,” which attempts to ban gender-affirming care for minors.
Speaking on His Act
In a statement on the Protect Children’s Innocence Act, Vance said, “Under no circumstances should doctors be allowed to perform these gruesome, irreversible operations on underage children.”
Active Campaign Support
Throughout the 2024 election cycle, Vance has been an active surrogate for Trump, helping raise money, participating in campaign events, and even discussing the possibility of serving as his vice-presidential running mate.
Helping the Former President
On Donald Trump Jr.’s podcast, Vance said, “I’ve told you, I told everybody, I want to help your dad however I can. And so certainly, if he asked me, I want to help him.”
Criticism From Other Politicians
More recently, Vance faced backlash from figures like Rep. Ritchie Torres, who called Vance “despicably demagogic to their core” for blaming Democrats for an assassination attempt on Trump.
The Central Premise
On social media, Vance posted, “The central premise of the Biden campaign is that President Donald Trump is an authoritarian fascist who must be stopped at all costs. That rhetoric led directly to President Trump’s attempted assassination.”
Partisanship Over Statesmanship
Rep. Ritchie Torres said, “Vance is despicably demagogic to their core and chose partisanship over statesmanship, even when the gravity of the moment calls for a moratorium on the usual partisan politics.”
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Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / lev radin.
