Former President Donald Trump has selected U.S. Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio as his running mate for the 2024 presidential election — a choice that has elicited sharply divided reactions from the media.
CNN and the mainstream media reacted with venom, with CNN star Van Jones calling Vance a “dangerous disease.” Conservative outlets reacted with joy, with Tucker Carlson pointing out that “every bad person I’ve ever met in a lifetime in Washington was aligned against J.D. Vance.”
Vance, 39, rose to prominence with his bestselling 2016 memoir “Hillbilly Elegy,” which chronicled his journey from a working-class background in Middletown, Ohio, to Yale Law School. A Marine veteran who served in Iraq, Vance later worked as a venture capitalist in Silicon Valley before returning to Ohio to launch an anti-opioid charity.
The selection of Vance, who was first elected to public office in 2022, represents a significant shift for the Republican ticket. If elected, he would be the first Marine veteran and the first millennial to serve as vice president.
Vance’s journey from Trump critic to ally has been a focal point of media coverage. In 2016, Vance called Trump “unfit” for office. By 2021, like many in the Republican Party he had reversed his stance, citing Trump’s accomplishments as president.
This transformation has drawn both praise and criticism, with supporters viewing it as evidence of Vance’s ability to reassess his views and critics calling him a “flip-flopper.”
He is known as a leading conservative voice on issues including a shift away from interventionist foreign policy and towards “America First” economics. Democrats rushed to label him an extremist, citing positions he has taken on issues like his pro-Life stance.
Supporters argue that Vance’s background and communication skills make him an key to the ticket. Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, said that Vance will help Trump in closely contested Midwest states like Michigan and Wisconsin, which share some of Ohio’s economic challenges.
As the 2024 campaign heats up, the Trump-Vance ’24 ticket promises to be a focal point of Democratic attack — and sets the stage for a contentious election season ahead.