Ohio Senator JD Vance was announced as Donald Trump’s running mate on Monday, drawing both criticism and praise from a variety of perspectives. Vance became well-known as the author of “Hillbilly Elegy,” which tells the story of his childhood in a broken Middletown, Ohio home, and eventually making his way to Yale Law School. The memoir reflects on his life growing up with an absent father and a mother addicted to heroin. An adaptation of the book was made into a film, published on Netflix in November 2020. Vance met his wife, Usha, at Yale Law School, and the couple would later have three children.
After law school, he would work for a corporate law firm, and then join Mithril Capital Management, a venture capital firm co-founded by Peter Thiel. Following the success of his book in 2016, he co-founded Narya Capital, a venture capital firm focusing on innovation in the Midwest.
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In 2022, he began his political career by running for a Senate seat in Ohio. He began the race as an outsider, and few expected him to win. In part due to the financial backing of Peter Thiel, he ultimately defeated Democrat Representative Tim Ryan. Thiel donated $10 million to a super PAC that supported Vance’s campaign.
The link between Thiel and Vance has drawn criticism from those wary of financial influence in politics, as well as those who disagree with Thiel’s opinions.
I would sincerely like to debate someone on Peter Thiel's track record – if you think this guy is a good one to have near the White House thru a proxy like Vance or as a funding source for "alternative" media, will happily show you why you are VERY wrong
— Whitney Webb (@_whitneywebb) July 16, 2024
Other critics have noted Vance’s opposition to Trump in the 2016 presidential election.
JD Vance, who called Trump “America’s Hitler” and a “cynical asshole,” and said that any American would have to be an “idiot” to vote for him, has been selected as Trump’s running mate.
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) July 15, 2024
When announcing the pick, Trump said he “will be strongly focused on the people he fought so brilliantly for, the American Workers and Farmers in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Minnesota, and far beyond.”
In an analysis of the pick, Robert Sterling said: “With JD as Vice President and heir to the GOP throne, a conservative agenda authentically focused on strengthening working-class families, middle-class communities, and an American economy that works for all stakeholders, not just we capital providers, becomes permanently enshrined. What the establishment hopes is a passing fad becomes a decades-long agenda.”
It’s amazing how many “legacy” conservatives—writers and old-school bloggers who came to prominence 20 years ago, during the Bush II era—simply don’t get it still. You could see it in their reactions to JD Vance getting selected as running mate, ranging from muted to disappointed… pic.twitter.com/XaruOoHHVw
— Robert Sterling (@RobertMSterling) July 16, 2024
Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro praised the pick, praising Vance as a “bulldog,” and lauding his intelligence and speaking ability.
As a friend put it, Vance is truly a "f*** it, we ride!" pick from Trump. Demonstrates real confidence — and shows that he wants a bulldog. Vance is certainly that. In terms of pure IQ and speaking ability, Vance is the best candidate Trump could pick.
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) July 15, 2024
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