Who is JD Vance? Facts on Trump’s VP pick

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Former President Donald Trump on Monday selected U.S. Sen. JD Vance of Ohio as his running mate in his bid to return to the White House.

Here are some key facts about Vance, a 39-year-old Republican currently serving in his first term in the Senate:

Vance, originally from Middletown, Ohio, enlisted in the Marines and served in Iraq. He later obtained degrees from Ohio State University and Yale Law School. Additionally, he worked as a venture capitalist in Silicon Valley.

Vance rose to prominence with his book, the 2016 bestseller “Hillbilly Elegy,” which was published during Trump’s initial presidential campaign. The book helped establish Vance as someone who could shed light on the appeal of the unconventional New York businessman among middle America, particularly the working-class, rural white voters who contributed to Trump’s victory.

“Hillbilly Elegy” also introduced Vance to the Trump family. Donald Trump Jr. appreciated the book and was familiar with Vance when he decided to enter politics. The two formed a bond and have since maintained a friendship.

Following Trump’s victory in the 2016 election, Vance returned to Ohio and established an anti-opioid charity. He engaged in public speaking engagements and became a sought-after speaker at Republican events, where his personal story resonated, particularly the challenges he faced due to his mother’s addiction.

Vance’s speeches paved the way for his entry into politics in 2021 when he ran for the Senate seat left vacant by Republican Rob Portman’s retirement, with Trump’s endorsement. Vance triumphed in a competitive Republican primary and the subsequent general election.

Personal relationships hold significant importance for the former president and he and Vance have developed a strong bond over time, frequently conversing over the phone.

Trump has also praised Vance’s beard, likening him to a young Abraham Lincoln.

In 2016, Vance was a “never Trump” Republican, criticizing Trump as “dangerous” and “unfit” for office. Vance, who is married to Indian American lawyer Usha Chilukuri Vance and has three children, also condemned Trump’s racist rhetoric, comparing him to “America’s Hitler.”

However, by 2021, Vance had reversed his stance after observing Trump’s accomplishments as president. Both men downplayed Vance’s previous harsh remarks, and Vance became a staunch Trump ally in Congress, consistently defending Trump’s policies and actions.

Kevin Roberts, president of the conservative Heritage Foundation, described Vance as a leading figure in the conservative movement, advocating for key issues such as a shift from interventionist foreign policy, free-market economics, and the preservation of “American culture overall.”

Although Democrats label him as an extremist, citing controversial positions Vance has taken but later modified, Vance signaled his support for a national 15-week abortion ban during his Senate campaign, then softened his stance after Ohio voters overwhelmingly approved a 2023 abortion rights amendment.

Regarding the 2020 election, Vance expressed that he wouldn’t have immediately certified the results if he were vice president and argued that Trump had a “legitimate grievance.” His conditions for acknowledging the results of the 2024 election mirror Trump’s statements. Despite numerous governmental and external investigations, no evidence of election fraud that could have altered Trump’s 2020 defeat to Democratic President Joe Biden has been found.

In the Senate, Vance sometimes advocates for bipartisanship. He collaborated with Democratic Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown to introduce a railway safety bill following a major train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. He has sponsored bills extending and increasing funding for Great Lakes restoration and supported bipartisan legislation benefiting workers and families.

Sources familiar with the vice presidential vetting process believe Vance would bring valuable debating skills to the GOP ticket and effectively articulate Trump’s vision.

Charlie Kirk, founder of the conservative activist group Turning Point USA, stated that Vance adeptly conveys the America First perspective and could assist Trump in states he narrowly lost in 2020, like Michigan and Wisconsin, which share Ohio’s values, demographics, and economy.