Donald Trump has made an extraordinary political comeback, securing his victory as the 47th President of the United States. He defeated his Democratic opponent, Kamala Harris. This marks an extraordinary return for a former president who just four years ago refused to accept his election defeat, leading to the violent insurrection of January 6, 2021 at the US Capitol.

With him coming to the White House is Ohio Senator JD Vance, once an outspoken critic of Trump. The arrival of the new vice president also offers a preview of the direction the Grand Old Party (GOP) will take in 2028. Trump completes his second term.

At just 40 years old, Vance has become the third-youngest vice president in American history and the first millennial to ever appear on a major party’s presidential ballot. His political journey, which culminates in his current role as Trump’s running mate, offers an intriguing insight into the evolving dynamics of the Republican Party.

Vance’s shifting allegiances from detractor to Trump ally

Before joining Trump, Vance was an outspoken critic of the former president. In 2016, as Trump prepared to become his first presidential candidate, the senator wondered if he was “America’s Hitler” and later labeled him a “moral disaster.” At the time, Vance publicly condemned Trump as a “total fraud” who was indifferent to the struggles of everyday Americans.

But Vance’s position changed dramatically in 2020. Through several in-person meetings at Mar-a-Lago and appearances on Fox News, Vance gradually embraced Trump’s politics, culminating in his support during the 2022 Ohio Senate race, which he won.

Vance was one of several Republican figures and potential vice presidential candidates who publicly expressed their loyalty to Donald Trump by representing him during his criminal trial in connection with the hush money case earlier this year in New York.

Vance’s path to the vice presidency

Trump, known for his sense of drama, postponed his choice of vice president until after a highly publicized assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania. Two days after the incident, Trump contacted Vance, offered him the position and announced the decision on social media.

Vance’s supporters, including Trump’s son Donald Trump Jr. and media figure Tucker Carlson, said Vance was the most loyal of the potential candidates, with a strong bond with Trump. His working-class background, growing up in a struggling Rust Belt town in Ohio, made him a powerful figure in attracting crucial battleground voters. Vance’s wife, Usha Vance, the daughter of Indian immigrants, was also seen as an additional factor in appealing to minority voters.

Controversies and campaign challenges

Vance’s selection has not been without controversy. As a public figure, he has been known to make provocative statements, some of which resurfaced during the campaign. In a 2021 podcast, he made inflammatory comments about the Democratic Party being led by “childless cat ladies,” drawing widespread criticism from critics who accused him of promoting a misogynistic agenda. Vance tried to make clear that the comments were aimed at the Democratic Party’s “anti-family” stance and not an attack on individuals without children.

Further, controversy erupted when Vance repeated unverified claims about Haitian immigrants allegedly eating pets in Ohio. Despite the lack of evidence to support these claims, Vance defended his comment, saying it was necessary to draw attention to pressing issues such as immigration. “If I have to create stories so that the American media pays attention to the suffering of the American people, then that’s what I’m going to do,” Vance had told CNN.