J.D. Vance, the first-term senator from Ohio, is now vice-president running mate for Donald Trump. This decision has marked a significant shift in both of their political relationship. This decision also makes Vance the first millennial to join a major-party ticket, highlighting concerns about the advanced age of America’s political leaders.

In a post on his Truth Social network, Trump stated, “After lengthy deliberation and thought, and considering the tremendous talents of many others, I have decided that the person best suited to assume the position of Vice President of the United States is Senator J.D. Vance of the Great State of Ohio.”

Everyone was surprised when Trump picked J.D. Vance as vice president. It was because the two were not on good terms before.

“I’m a ‘never Trump’ guy. I never liked him.”

“My god, what an idiot.”

“I find him reprehensible.”

That was from JD Vance in interviews and on Twitter in 2016, when the publication of his memoir Hillbilly Elegy catapulted him to fame.

He also wrote privately to an associate of FacebookI in 2016: “I go back and forth between thinking Trump is a cynical asshole … or that he’s America’s Hitler”. However, a few years later, this severe critic of Trump turned into one of his favorite allies.

How J.D. Vance Gained Political Recognition. 

J.D. Vance gained national recognition in 2016 cause of his memoir highlighting Appalachian communities’ social and economic struggles. After being elected to the Senate in 2022, Vance has openly shown his support towards Trump’s “Make America Great Again” agenda, particularly on trade, foreign policy, and immigration.

Despite being new in the political world, J.D. Vance’s loyalty to Trump and his active participation in conservative media has made him a prominent figure. The failed assassination at Trump’s rally was a major challenge for J.D. Vance’s selection as his running mate. This incident also raised concerns about the safety during political rallies. 

Professional And Personal Life

He is an American author, venture capitalist, and politician serving as the junior United States senator from Ohio since 2023. A member of the Republican Party, he is the party’s nominee for vice president in the 2024 election. 

He was born into a problematic family in Middletown, Ohio. His mother struggled with addiction, and his father left the family when he was just a toddler. He was raised by his grandparents who were also portrayed in his memoir.

He attended The Ohio State University, graduating in 2009. He graduated from Yale Law School in 2013. He came to prominence with his 2016 memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, which describes his upbringing in the Rust Belt, poverty, drug addiction, and Appalachian culture. 

He wrote that he saw the Appalachians “reacting to bad circumstances in the worst way possible” and that they were products of “a culture that encourages social decay instead of counteracting it”.

“The truth is hard,” he wrote, “and the hardest truths for hill people are the ones they must tell about themselves.”

He also played a good part in the Senate. J.D. Vance showed his willingness to collaborate with across party lines. He partnered with his senior senator, democrat sherrod brown. They collaborated on several initiatives including securing funding for a $20 billion Intel chip facility and introducing rail safety legislation following a derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.