he is now the presumptive leader of the “Make America Great Again” movement.
His new administration is anticipated to carry out his objectives. He is also expected to act as a representative to Capitol Hill, utilizing the relationships he established during his two years in the Senate.
“I think JD’s the guy who can fill in any gaps, do what’s best for the administration, and be of greatest benefit to President Trump as much as possible,” said Senator Bernie Moreno, a Republican from Ohio and an ally.
Moreno stated that Vance would continue in the position of Trump’s main representative, publicly defending him on television and engaging in debates with reporters.
His main priority is to be out there and be President Trump’s strong supporter,” said Moreno. When Trump needs someone to defend him or his policies, he added, “JD’s the one to lead the team to have President Trump’s support.
It has been an incredible eight years since the 40-year-old author of “Hillbilly Elegy” made a remarkable transformation from a former venture capitalist and a harsh Trump critic to his current role. Vance will play a crucial role not only in Trump’s potential return to the White House, but also in shaping the future of his political movement. With Trump ineligible for the 2028 election due to the Constitution, Vance is being seen as a natural successor to Trump’s agenda.
Before anything else, he needs to stay in Trump’s favor.
Vance had a tough beginning
Trump’s decision to tap Vance as his number two was initially met with a dull reception.
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Established himself as one of Donald Trump’s top surrogates, consistently answering reporters’ questions and doing interviews with a variety of media outlets. He even showed up on three Sunday talk shows in one day.
Vance’s effort to engage in discussions that sometimes involve hostile responses was commended by Trump.
He’s really feisty, isn’t he?” Trump said during his victory speech on election night, describing how he had told Vance to “take on the opposition.” While some Republicans might have been hesitant to appear on CNN or talk to The New York Times, Trump said, Vance “really looks forward to it, and then he just completely dominates them.
Vance, he said, “ended up being a good choice. I took a bit of criticism at the start, but he was – I knew the brain was a top-notch one, as good as you can find.”
A cautionary tale
Things didn’t go so well for Trump’s last running mate.
Mike Pence, who remained steadfastly devoted to his boss, brought an end to his term after being forced to flee from a violent mob on January 6, 2021, as a result of his refusal to cooperate with Trump’s plan to nullify the results of the 2020 election that ultimately saw him lose to Democrat Joe Biden.
Trump wouldn’t pardon Pence, holding him responsible for their loss and labeling him a traitor to his base. Ahead of the 2024 primary, Pence would opt out of the race, giving up on his bid for nomination months before the first votes were cast.
“Pence and Trump started out with the same high expectations and had a great working relationship,” said Devin O’Malley, who was Pence’s former press secretary and senior campaign adviser. O’Malley noted that he didn’t think things would end the same way for Vance, who, he said, “appears to be meeting all the criteria for success in the role.”
While Trump and Pence were reportedly close before their falling out, they had very different personalities. Trump chose Pence, a relatively unknown individual, largely to ease concerns among evangelical Christians about Trump’s behavior and to gain the support of other Republicans who were skeptical about his outsider candidacy.
Aides have described Trump and Vance as actual friends who genuinely enjoy each other’s company. The two men frequently talk to each other almost every day on the phone, in person, or through text messages.
Different from Pence, Vance also shares Trump’s ideology on key issues, including trade and the deployment of US forces overseas. He has close ties to Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., and has developed strong relationships with incoming chief of staff Susie Wiles, senior adviser Stephen Miller and others.
He also has ties to the new generation of tech billionaires that are rising to prominence in Trump’s circle, including Elon Musk and Peter Thiel, who have previously employed Vance and supported his political ascent.
Although 2028 is still a long time off, many people currently view Mike Pence as the likely standard-bearer for the MAGA movement, even though other prominent Republicans with national aspirations are also in the running.
Trump adviser Jason Miller described him as “the future of the Republican Party and this movement that President Trump has started.”
“He truly views him as the ideal person to carry the torch for future generations following President Trump,” he said at a recent meeting of business executives.
A new generation assumes leadership
When he is sworn in on Monday, Vance will become the first millennial to hold the position and the first vice president in nearly two decades to have young kids.
His youth in the national spotlight may give Vance some advantages, such as being at ease with social media and having a different communication approach.
“I think because he is younger he has a boldness that – with the exception of former President Trump – as you get older, your boldness I think gets tempered by things you learn over the years,” Capito said.
Those close to Vance emphasize that he is an average individual – “as ordinary a person as you’ll find in politics,” said Moreno – with a blue-collar upbringing.
He’s a guy’s guy. He’s one of the guys. He’ll wear sweatshirts showing his support for sports teams. He’ll hang out with the guys, watch football, have a beer together and playfully tease each other. But when the time calls, he’s also serious and works hard.
Indeed, after his beloved Ohio State secured a spot in the national football championship game, Vance took to social media to express his frustration about his predicament. The Buckeyes will face off against Notre Dame for the title in Atlanta on Monday night, just hours after he and Trump are scheduled to be sworn into office.
A comic strip showing two red buttons — “Attend your own inauguration” and “Go watch the Buckeyes win a national title” — and a sweating superhero torn between them.
It was the kind of witty remark that’s familiar to any sports enthusiast, and it added to his reputation as a down-to-earth person.
But Vance will remain in Washington, even though he’s attending the Liberty Ball.
