Trump critic-turned-ally JD Vance elected vice president, offering glimpse at GOP’s potential future

Just two years after winning his first political race, Ohio Senator JD Vance is set to become the next vice president of the United States, marking a new era for the Republican Party. At 40, Vance will be the third-youngest vice president in U.S. history and the first millennial to appear on a major party’s presidential ticket. His election as vice president not only signifies the rise of a new generation in American politics but also offers a potential glimpse of the Republican Party’s future, particularly after President Donald Trump’s second term concludes.

Vance’s political journey is remarkable for its sharp reversal of earlier positions. Once a vocal critic of Donald Trump, Vance’s transformation into the president-elect’s running mate exemplifies how the Republican Party has shifted under Trump’s influence. Raised in the working-class Rust Belt town of Middletown, Ohio, Vance had a turbulent childhood, raised by his grandparents while his mother battled addiction. After high school, he joined the Marine Corps and later graduated from Ohio State University and Yale Law School. Vance’s career included stints as a venture capitalist, and he rose to national prominence in 2016 with the release of his bestselling memoir, Hillbilly Elegy. The book was widely cited as a key to understanding the appeal of Trump’s populist message in the Rust Belt.

At the time, Vance was an outspoken Trump critic. In private messages, he even questioned whether Trump was “America’s Hitler,” and publicly, he denounced the president as a “moral disaster.” He called Trump a “fraud” who did not care about everyday Americans. However, by 2020, Vance’s tone began to shift. After meeting with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate and courting the president through appearances on Fox News, Vance won Trump’s endorsement in Ohio’s Republican Senate primary in 2022. He went on to win the race, solidifying his alignment with Trump.

Vance’s loyalty to Trump deepened after the former president’s legal challenges began. He was one of the lawmakers who showed public support for Trump during his criminal trial in New York earlier in the year. He also took a different stance from former Vice President Mike Pence on the issue of certifying election results, suggesting that the vice president could play a more influential role in overturning the election outcome—something Pence famously refused to do in 2021.

In his time in Congress, Vance has become a staunch advocate for conservative values, opposing foreign aid and legislation to support Ukraine’s defense in its war with Russia. He has also sponsored bills targeting transgender minors’ access to gender-affirming care and pushing back against diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. At the same time, Vance has adopted populist positions, supporting tariffs and opposing corporate mergers, aligning himself with figures like Senator Elizabeth Warren on certain economic issues.

Trump’s selection of Vance as his running mate was not without drama. The decision came after a delay, with Trump postponing his pick until after a shooting attempt against him in Butler, Pennsylvania, and the start of the Republican National Convention. Despite speculation about other possible candidates—such as Florida Senator Marco Rubio and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum—Vance emerged as Trump’s choice, in part due to his strong relationship with the president and his appeal to working-class voters. Vance’s background in the Rust Belt, coupled with his wife Usha Vance’s immigrant background, was seen as an asset to broaden the GOP’s appeal among minority voters.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine called Vance’s selection a “great day for Ohio” and praised him as someone who embodied Trump’s appeal to working men and women. DeWine also noted that Vance’s youth represented a fresh direction for the Republican Party.

However, Vance’s rise to national prominence has not been without controversy. His past remarks, including a 2021 podcast where he referred to Democratic Party leaders as “childless cat ladies,” drew backlash, especially among women voters. He later explained that his comments were a criticism of the Democratic Party’s “anti-family” stance, not a direct attack on women without children. In another controversial episode, Vance spread unfounded claims about Haitian immigrants allegedly eating pets in Ohio. Despite the lack of evidence, Vance defended the rhetoric as a way to highlight what he saw as the media’s neglect of immigration issues, stating, “If I have to create stories so that the American media actually pays attention to the suffering of the American people, then that’s what I’m going to do.”

As Vance takes on the vice-presidential role, his journey from Trump skeptic to loyal ally offers a unique insight into the evolving dynamics of the Republican Party. His rise represents not only the continuation of Trump’s influence but also a shift toward a younger, more populist wing of the party. How Vance’s policies and political approach will shape the future of the GOP remains to be seen, but his election undoubtedly marks a pivotal moment in American politics.