JD Vance has become famous as the voice of America’s marginalized population and has transformed himself from an opponent to a fan of Donald Trump, who is rewarding him with the prospect of the office of Vice President.
The Republicans have officially named Senator JD Vance as their running mate for the US presidential election in November. At the party convention in Milwaukee, the delegates voted for the 39-year-old, who had only recently been announced as the “running mate” of presidential candidate Donald Trump. Vance bathed in the crowd and was cheered. The delegates shouted “USA, USA, USA” and celebrated the bestselling author, who entered the hall with his wife. Vance did not initially give a speech – this is expected on Wednesday (German night to Thursday).
The nomination seals the brilliant and unusual career of the man who suddenly became famous as the voice of a marginalized America.
Vance was a soldier, best-selling author and financial investor before he tirelessly defended the former president’s concerns, such as economic protectionism and the fight against illegal migration, as a senator in Congress in recent years. On other issues, however, such as abortion, Vance is more conservative than Trump.
US President Joe Biden’s campaign team called Vance an “extremist” who denies the result of the 2020 presidential election and supports a “national abortion ban.” He also wants to “raise taxes on middle-class families while pushing through further tax cuts for the rich.”
JD Vance has sharply criticized Donald Trump
“I have a good memory. If you fight Trump and the candidates he supports today, don’t ask me in a year to vote for your law or the projects you care about,” warned the senator with the round face, flawless parting and well-groomed beard earlier this year.
His critics mocked these words and saw a certain irony: Before he defended Donald Trump tooth and nail, Vance did not hold back with criticism of the billionaire.
Announcement of the running mate
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In fact, Vance was anything but a Trump fan in the past. “My God, what an idiot,” he tweeted about the future president in 2016. He even once compared the right-wing populist to Adolf Hitler. After switching to politics, however, the father of three children turned into an ardent Trump admirer. It was also Trump who played a major role in his entry into the US Senate.
Vance blames Biden for assassination attempt
Following the attempted assassination of Trump last Saturday, Republican Vance pointed the finger directly at Trump’s rival Joe Biden. “The central premise of Biden’s campaign is that President Donald Trump is an authoritarian fascist who must be stopped at all costs,” Vance wrote on X, adding, “This rhetoric led directly to the attempted assassination of President Trump.”
Before he came to Washington, his life took a rather unusual course: He grew up in humble circumstances in the so-called rust belt in the northeast of the USA, which is marked by the decline of industry. He joined the army and later studied law at one of the most prestigious universities in the country before pursuing a career in Silicon Valley.
Famous for his book “Hillbilly Elegy”
Vance became famous overnight in 2016 with his autobiographical book “Hillbilly Elegy: The Story of My Family and a Society in Crisis”. In it, he described growing up in a white lower-class family in the USA, marked by poverty and drug problems. The book was later made into a film for the streaming service Netflix.
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The book’s great success was due to the fact that, in many people’s view, it provided an explanation for how the white working class in marginalized former industrial regions could be enthusiastic about Trump. However, the “Hilbilly Elegy” was not without controversy. Some critics accused Vance of a clichéd portrayal of the impoverished population in the Appalachian region.
Only later did he approach the so-called Trumpists. With his book he caught the attention of Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., who became a close friend. He is said to have played an important role in the nomination of Vance as vice-candidate. Vance could be an attractive vice-candidate for Trump, not least because the young senator is well connected and has proven his ability to raise large sums of money for the Republicans.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
