What kind of vice president will JD Vance be? Trump's cheerleader and top fighter
PALM BEACH, Fla. – President-elect Donald Trump hasn't talked much about how his second administration will operate ? he thought it was bad luck to do so before Election Day ? but Vice President-elect JD Vance appears to have at least two roles locked up.
Cheerleader and communicator.
"He is a feisty guy, isn’t he?" Trump said of his 40-year-old running mate during his victory speech early Wednesday.
After securing the VP nomination, Vance happily played the role of Trump's attack dog as he barnstormed the 2024 swing states. He maintained an antagonistic presence on social media and called Vice President Kamala Harris "trash" ? a nod to President Joe Biden's "garbage" gaffe. The freshman Ohio senator also gave more media interviews than anyone at the top of the ticket ? 152, according to his campaign ? and turned press conferences into part of the show at his rallies.
Trump frequently praised Vance for his aggressive jousts with interviewers and indicated he wants to see more of it in the future. Referring to the news media as "the enemy camp," Trump said Wednesday that Vance is "the only guy I've ever seen" who "really looks forward to it. And then he just goes and absolutely obliterates them."
Called to the microphone by Trump, Vance signaled he's ready to assume the role of advocate-in-chief ? a stark contrast to the man who once called Trump "noxious" and suggested he could be "America's Hitler."
"After the greatest political comeback in American history, we’re going to lead the greatest economic comeback in American history under Donald Trump's leadership," Vance said.
What kind of vice president will JD Vance be?
A good relationship with Trump can sour quickly. Just ask former Vice President Mike Pence.
Pence was one of Trump's biggest cheerleaders during his first term in the White House, and yet Trump turned on him because he refused to help him overturn the 2020 election. Trump was nonchalant when demonstrators threatened to kill Pence during the insurrection of Jan. 6, 2021.
Trump acknowledged frustration over Vance's early stumbles ? noting Wednesday that he "took a little heat at the beginning" ? but aides said he came to appreciate what Vance brought to the campaign. The turning point, they said: Vance's debate with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the Democratic nominee for vice president.
"He’s turned out to be a good choice," Trump said.
Vance said little on the campaign trail about what kind of vice president he expects to be. He told NBC News that he'd like to influence border policy and drive conversations about substance abuse, something his mother struggled with up until 10 years ago. Ahead of Tuesday's election, Vance told the New York Times that he and Trump were too superstitious to talk much about his role in the White House.
But whatever the mission at hand, Vance said he expects to be an active second-in-command.
"I know the president wants me to be involved in everything, and I certainly hope to be," he told USA TODAY in September. "The president is the leader of the party. If he wins, he's the leader of the country, and my job is to help make him as successful as I can."
Tuesday's election results may also have made Vance the de facto front-runner for the 2028 Republican nomination given Trump is about to serve a second and final term. On the campaign trail, Trump would sometimes talk about what it will be like to have another politician leading his movement. On at least one occasion, he mentioned “JD” as a possible successor.
Vance's campaign declined to comment on his role in the incoming Trump administration.
Trump's 'amplifier and defender'
Vice presidential scholar Joel Goldstein, a law professor emeritus of St. Louis University, said he suspects Trump "will look to Vance largely as an amplifier and defender." He said it remains to be seen how much influence Vance will really have.
"Trump has indicated in multiple ways that he doesn't place a high value on the assets the vice presidency can bring to democratic governance," Goldstein said. "Vance's limited experience in government ? he will enter office with less government service even than Spiro Agnew ? will limit what he has to offer Trump."
Vance was first elected to the U.S. Senate two years ago.
But University of Dayton political science professor Christopher Devine said Vance could be a more influential VP than Pence, who handled some high-profile tasks but ultimately didn't hold sway with Trump. Devine said Vance's ability to work his way into the inner MAGA orbit ? in part, because of his friendship with Donald Trump Jr. ? could better position him to bend Trump's ear on certain issues.
Take Springfield, Ohio, for example: Vance raised concerns about an influx of Haitian migrants and amplified unsubstantiated claims on social media about immigrants eating people's pets. Then Trump seized on the controversy during his first and only debate with Harris.
"JD Vance long ago figured out the way to Donald Trump's heart was through being a fighter and at least matching Donald Trump’s rhetoric," Devine said. "If not taking it further."
David Jackson reported from Palm Beach, Florida. Haley BeMiller reported from Columbus, Ohio.
(This story was updated to add a video.)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: JD Vance could bring 'feisty' persona to role of vice president