Donald Trump, no stranger to defending himself, has this week found himself having to defend his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance.
Vance, best known for his novel “Hillbilly Elegy” about his time growing up in Appalachia, was seen as a relative political unknown upon being announced as Trump’s running mate last month.
Vance’s Statements Cause Controversy
Now that JD Vance is under increased scrutiny as the VP nominee, some of his past comments have begun to cause controversy.
Not everyone is taking kindly to, for example, Vance’s suggestion that Vice President Harris and other so-called “childless cat ladies” want to make the country miserable.
Criticism From Outside And Inside His Party
Vance is facing criticisms from some expected sources, Vice President Harris and her allies have begun to call him “weird,” and some unexpected sources.
Some within Vance’s own party, such as North Dakota Sen. Kevin Cramer, have issued mild criticism of Vance’s statements, with Cramer saying “I think if he was thinking two years ago or three years ago, ‘I might be on a presidential ticket in a couple of years,’ he might have chosen different words” and suggesting if Vance apologized that “people are very forgiving.”
Some Saw Vance As A Risky Pick Even Before Comments Surfaced
Some Republicans saw Vance as a riskier pick for VP than more well known candidates like Sen. Marco Rubio and Tim Scott.
Some even worried that Vance was a choice born out of hubris and overconfidence in Trump’s inevitable defeat over then-candidate President Biden.
Biden Dropping Out Changes Electoral Math
President Biden dropping out of the presidential race and endorsing VP Harris for president significantly changes the electoral math for Republicans.
What was once seen as an all-but certain electoral victory for Trump is now seen, even by Trump’s allies, as no sure thing and makes scrutiny on Vance that much more significant.
Trump Defends His VP Nominee
In an interview at the National Association of Black Journalists conference Trump defended his VP pick from attack.
“I’m just speaking for myself. And I think I’m speaking for him, too,” Trump said. “My interpretation is he’s strongly family-oriented. But that doesn’t mean that if you don’t have a family, there’s something wrong with that.”
Trump Makes Some Controversial Statements Himself
In the same interview former President Trump attacked VP Harris for what he saw as her tendency to downplay being Black.
Trump also questioned Harris’ racial identity, saying “I didn’t know she was Black until a number of years ago when she happened to turn Black and now she wants to be known as Black. So, I don’t know, is she Indian or is she Black?”
Trump Supporters’ Thoughts On Vance
Supporters interviewed by the AP at Trump’s rally Wednesday expressed disagreement with Vance’s statements but unwavering support for the ticket.
Kenneth “Nemo” Riemann summed up the general feelings of those interviewed by noting that no one agrees with someone else 100% of the time. “I don’t agree 100% with what Trump says,” Niemann said.
No Plans To Change Course
Vance has not apologized for his statements and a senior Trump advisor told the AP that there has been “zero conversation” about replacing Vance as his VP nominee.
That same advisor predicted that soon the news cycle and scrutiny will turn to Harris’ forthcoming pick for VP.
How Important is the Vice Presidential Nominee To Voters?
Many point to Arizona Sen. John Mccain’s pick of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate as a significant reason he lost the 2008 presidential race, but what effect the VP pick makes overall is less clear.
Trump believes it does not make a big difference, saying “You can have a vice president that is outstanding in every way, and I think JD is, I think all of them would have been, but you’re not voting that way. You’re voting for the president. You’re voting for me.”
