Today, the Republican National Convention (RNC) begins, with an array of notable speakers expected to make speeches – including Governor Kristi Noem (R-N.D.), former British Prime Minister Liz Truss, and of course, Donald Trump himself.
Today, it was reported that Trump had selected Ohio Senator J.D. Vance to be his running mate – something that the former President is expected to announce formally at the Convention. Just years ago, the now-Senator was an ardent critic of Trump – even comparing him to Hitler!
Vance’s Early Life
J.D. Vance was born in 1984 in Middletown, Ohio to parents of Scots-Irish descent. Vance enlisted in the US Marine Corps after graduating from high school.
Vance served as a military journalist during the Iraq War and graduated with a political science degree in 2009. He previously worked for Republican State Senator Bob Schuler.
Success As An Author
In 2016, Vance released the book “Hillbilly Elegy” about Appalachian values and the phenomenon of rural communities turning away from the Democratic Party.
The book, which was later adapted into a film starring Amy Adams and Glenn Close, was listed by the New York Times as “one of the six best books to help understand Trump’s win”.
Vance Once Compared Trump to Hitler
In the lead-up to the 2016 Presidential Election, Vance was unafraid to publicly condemn Donald Trump, calling him a “reprehensible” “idiot”. Privately, his condemnations were even harsher.
In a private message on Facebook, Vance wrote, “I go back and forth between thinking Trump is a cynical a****le like Nixon who wouldn’t be that bad (and might even prove useful) or that he’s America’s Hitler.”
How Vance Earned Trump’s Favor
When running for Senate in 2022, Vance aligned himself with a number of Trump’s beliefs – including down-playing the January 6th insurrection.
Vance earned Trump’s endorsement, which pundits agree was crucial in helping him win a competitive Republican Primary. In November 2022, Vance narrowly beat Democrat Tim Ryan to become the junior Senator from Ohio.
Why Vance Changed His Mind on Trump
Vance said he didn’t change his mind on Trump overnight, but slowly came to respect the former President because of Trump’s policies like opposing free trade.
“I allowed myself to focus so much on the stylistic element of Trump that I completely ignored the way in which he substantively was offering something very different on foreign policy, on trade, on immigration,” Vance said in June.
Vance’s Relationship With Trump
Vance’s first introduction to the Trump family came via Trump’s son Donald Trump Jr.. Trump Jr was said to be attracted to Vance’s opposition to giving Ukraine military funding.
Vance endorsed Trump early on during the GOP primary, declaring his support in January 2023. The following month, Vance and Trump visited East Palestine, Ohio together following a train derailment there.
Controversial Stance on Abortion
Ever since the repeal of Roe v Wade, Republicans have faced strong backlash from voters on the issue of abortion – failing to take back the Senate in the 2022 midterms. Like Trump, Vance is a hardline opponent of pro-choice policies.
In 2021, Vance implied that victims of incest and rape should be forced to carry their pregnancies to term. Meanwhile, he opposed a ballot measure to add the right to an abortion to the Ohio State Constitution (the measure eventually passed in a landslide).
Hardliner on Immigration
Vance supports Trump’s Border Wall and has promised as Senator to “oppose every attempt to grant amnesty” to undocumented immigrants.
Vance has previously blamed undocumented immigrants for undercutting wages for Americans and said that “Joe Biden’s open border is killing Ohioans.”
Trump Comments on Vance Pick
In a fundraising email following the running mate selection, Trump said, “deep down I always knew that I needed JD Vance on my side.”
The 45th President added, “[He is] someone who could step in and serve as your Commander-in-Chief.”
