From questioning Trump to being his vice presidential formula: he is JD Vance

James David Vance, known as JD Vance, is the new face of the United States Republican ticket. He was chosen as vice president of this nation along with the next president Donald Trump, after a close campaign with candidate Kamala Harris. Experts consider him the heir to Trump’s “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) movement.

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From national politics to being Trump’s formula

JD Vance was born on August 2, 1984 in Middletown, Ohio, into a lower-middle class family. Raised by his grandparents In an environment marked by poverty and drug abuse, Vance achieved a remarkable rise which made him a successful businessman and author.

His autobiography, Hillbilly Elegydirectly relates the social crisis and economic situation of white rural communities in the “Rust Belt”, a key region for Donald Trump’s electorate.

Vance is seen by many as an authentic representative of the rural and working class. According to analysts, Vance is seen as someone who “represents or understands the rural and working class.” These communities, which helped Trump become president in 2016, have found in Vance a voice that understands and articulates their concerns.

JD Vance questioned Donald Trump in 2016

One of the most striking aspects of Vance is his change of position regarding Donald Trump. In 2016, he was critical of the then-Republican candidate, questioning his ability to govern. However, as his political career progressed, and especially after his election as senator in 2022, Vance became closer to Trump’s ideas. Today, he is the vice presidential candidate on the Republican ticket along with the former president.

“It is really curious that Democratic leaders say that Donald Trump is a unique threat to democracy when he peacefully handed over power on January 20, as we have done for 250 years in this country. Let’s shake hands after this debate and after this election. And, of course, I hope we win and I think we’re going to win,” he said in one of his most recent speeches, before Trump was elected the next president of the United States.

He thinks that there were very good things in Trump’s mandate

The businessman defends this change in perspective by arguing that the Trump administration brought tangible benefits for the forgotten sectors of the country, such as industrial workers and rural areas. His vision aligns with a more protectionist and nationalist approach and, in the Senate, he has been a firm defender of traditional values, in addition to being a fierce critic of progressive policies, especially on issues related to immigration, gender identity and the role of the federal government.

“The people I care about most in Springfield, Ohio, “They are the American citizens whose lives have been destroyed by Kamala Harris’ open border,” argued the American politician.

AFP

JD Vance’s career in the Senate

His experience in the Senate has been marked by a focus on economic policies aimed at revitalizing American industries and reduce dependence on foreign imports, especially from China. Vance’s choice as Trump’s 2024 running mate seeks to “connect with working-class voters who feel they have been left behind by the traditional political system.”

Despite his popularity among these communities, Vance faced the challenge of appealing to the most undecided sectors of the electorate, especially moderate Republicans who still view his changing past and his close relationship with Trump with suspicion.

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