How Did JD Vance, Who Once Called Trump “America’s Hitler” And An “Idiot,” Become His VP Pick?

Former President Donald Trump has announced Ohio Senator JD Vance as his running mate for the 2024 presidential election. The decision, revealed on Trump’s social media platform Truth Social, comes after months of speculation and consideration of various potential candidates.

In the announcement, Trump praised Vance’s military service, academic achievements, and business acumen. The former president emphasized Vance’s commitment to fighting for American workers and farmers, particularly in key battleground states. 

In Trump’s months-long real-life version of The Apprentice, Vance emerged the winner with Senator Marco Rubio and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum in the top 3.

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The 39-year-old senator rose to national prominence with his bestselling memoir “Hillbilly Elegy,” which explored socioeconomic issues in Appalachia. His journey from Marine Corps veteran to Yale Law School graduate and venture capitalist has been seen as embodying the American dream.

The selection comes at a crucial moment for the Trump campaign, following a recent assassination attempt on the former president at a Pennsylvania rally. Trump’s team believes Vance’s addition to the ticket will bolster their appeal in Rust Belt states.

Vance is also either a convert or a hypocrite, depending on how one wants to look at it.  In 2016, he publicly denounced Trump and privately compared him to Adolf Hitler. While undecided about supporting then-Democratic candidate Hilary Clinton, he described Trump as “noxious” and “reprehensible,” and at some point also called him “an idiot.”

However, by 2022, Vance had become a staunch supporter, securing Trump’s endorsement in his successful Senate race. He claims that Trump’s performance as president made him change his mind.

The senator’s policy positions, particularly his opposition to US aid for Ukraine and his populist economic views, align closely with Trump’s “America First” agenda. This ideological compatibility, combined with Vance’s ability to articulate conservative positions, made him an attractive choice for the Trump campaign.

Republican talking head Tucker Carlson (who also happens to have privately “passionately hated” the former president) told Axios that it’s Vance because “he doesn’t secretly hate Trump, as all the rest of them do. He fundamentally agrees with Trump. That’s precisely why neocon donors [who want more aid for Ukraine] fear him.”

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