J.D. Vance, the current Vice President to and fiercest ally of President Donald Trump, has not always been such a loyal supporter. Vance began as a skeptic to Trump, but as Trump’s influence surged, the party’s true identity and priorities became clear. Vance’s personal shift isn’t just about his affiliation, but it’s a clear reflection of the Republican Party’s transformation as a whole.
In 2016, Vance released his bestselling memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy,” which launched him to national recognition. With Trump entering the political landscape around the same time, Vance made clear of his feelings towards him.
In an interview with journalist Charlie Rose, Vance said he was a “never-Trump guy.”
Vance spoke with ABC News and said he didn’t see Trump “offering many solutions.”
Vance also told a reporter that “the reason, ultimately, that I am not … is because I think that (Trump) is the most-raw expression of a massive finger pointed at other people.”
So what changed so suddenly and drastically?
In 2021, Vance announced his bid for Ohio senator, and his view on Trump changed significantly. He deleted social media posts calling out the President and even appeared in a Fox News interview addressing this change of heart.
Many chalked this up as a way to fast-track his way to the VP short list, but it’s much deeper than that. Republicans have recognized Trump’s unwavering support, and going against him seems to be a quick way to political suicide. It marks a unique shift in the party’s values– supporting Trump outweighs supporting traditional conservative values.
The issue with this is that politics have become about personality and not policy. Republicans are blindly backing notions by Trump even if they disagree, for fear of losing their power. Party identity should never be tied to a specific persona. By doing this, the Republican Party is alienating moderate voters and feeding into a cycle where recovery may not be possible in a post-Trump landscape.
Vance’s Trump turn is a microcosm of the GOP’s story. It is a terrifying reality when politicians are scared to go against the president for fear of political repercussions. The party must break free from personality cults and reclaim a vision worth fighting for.
