First 100 Days; Hillbilly Candidate for President, JD Vance, Doesn't Shy Away from Confrontation

Vice President JD Vance has emerged as a dynamic advocate for President Donald Trump’s agenda during the initial 100 days of Trump’s second term, both domestically and on the global stage. The Cincinnati Republican skillfully leveraged relationships with former Senate colleagues to secure confirmation for Trump’s most controversial cabinet nominees. Amid sensitive peace negotiations, Vance openly criticized Ukraine’s president during a White House event. His first international address stunned attendees and surprised U.S. political observers accustomed to more reserved vice presidents, as he accused European nations of stifling free speech and neglecting defense contributions. Robert Alexander, a political scientist at Bowling Green State University, noted that Vance defies the traditional view of vice presidents as peripheral figures who prioritize visibility over influence. “Indeed, JD Vance has played a central role in some of the most pivotal moments of Donald Trump’s first 100 days in office,” Alexander remarked. While Vance’s political prospects hinge on the public’s reception of Trump’s second term, his assertive approach and prominent presence are laying the groundwork for a potential 2028 presidential candidacy.

Contrasting with His Predecessor

JD Vance and former Vice President Mike Pence, who served as Indiana’s governor before joining Trump’s first administration, present a stark contrast, according to Christopher Devine, a political scientist at the University of Dayton and author of two books on vice presidential candidates. Devine explains that Pence was selected as Trump’s 2016 running mate to reassure GOP leaders wary of Trump’s lack of public office experience. Largely sidelined by Trump, Pence was assigned roles that appeared significant but lacked real authority, such as leading the coronavirus response task force. Pence complied with Trump’s directives until he lost favor for refusing to support Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election results by rejecting electoral votes during the Electoral College count. Devine argues that Vance, at 40, exerts far greater influence. Closely aligned with Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement, Vance had only two years of public office experience before becoming the nation’s second-highest official. His 2022 Ohio Senate victory was propelled by Trump’s endorsement. Devine notes that Vance was chosen as Trump’s 2024 running mate to reinforce, not balance, Trump’s agenda. During the selection process, Vance expressed willingness to back Trump’s plan to challenge the 2020 election outcome. Following an assassination attempt on Trump at a Pennsylvania rally, Vance attributed the incident to the Biden campaign’s “rhetoric,” a stance Devine believes strengthened Trump’s trust in him. “Behind closed doors, JD Vance is likely seen as more reliable by Trump and his inner circle, given his alignment with Trump’s style and ideology,” Devine observes. “Vice enhancing their influence.”

Domestic Responsibilities

Sworn in as vice president on January 20, Vance immediately began rallying reluctant former Senate colleagues to support Trump’s contentious cabinet picks. His tie-breaking vote was crucial in confirming Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. “I thought my Senate voting days were over,” Vance quipped at the time. He also played a key role in convincing Louisiana GOP Senator Bill Cassidy, chair of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, to endorse Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination to head the human services department. During the confirmation push, Vance emphasized, “Tulsi Gabbard and RFK Jr. each represent elements of our party’s new coalition in their unique ways. Denying their confirmation dismisses the voters who support them and undermines President Trump’s authority to shape his cabinet.” Vance has frequently framed opposition to Trump’s decisions as a rejection of the American electorate’s will, using this argument to challenge both Congress and the judiciary. To advance Trump’s agenda, he has vocally championed a series of bold domestic initiatives as part of a “shock and awe” strategy to overcome resistance. Vance has defended Trump’s tariff proposals as a tool to revitalize American industry and reverse the decline of communities hit by factory closures. His visits to the U.S.-Mexico border highlighted immigration concerns, while trips to a Michigan plastics company and East Palestine, Ohio—marking the second anniversary of a toxic train derailment—promoted Trump’s manufacturing policies. Vance has staunchly supported deporting immigrants to an El Salvadoran prison without hearings, blaming “activist district court judges” for a flawed immigration system mired in bureaucracy. He has also praised the work of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has eliminated programs it claims will save billions, though critics argue these are vital services, and has terminated approximately 216,000 federal employees. Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference in February, Vance remarked, “We’re all wondering, ‘What have we been doing with American taxpayers’ money for the past four years?’” Trump also tasked Vance with facilitating the sale of the Chinese-owned social media platform TikTok and leveraging his position on the Smithsonian Institution’s board of regents to “eliminate inappropriate ideology” from its institutions.

A Bold and Confrontational Style

To elevate his profile at home and abroad, Vance has embarked on an ambitious schedule of domestic and international travel and public appearances. His image has become a pop culture phenomenon, appearing in memes ranging from Teletubbies characters to Chicken McNuggets and even the sun. His Easter meeting with Pope Francis, with whom he clashed on Catholic doctrinal issues, sparked a flurry of memes, especially after the pontiff’s passing the following day. A frequent guest on television news, Vance’s provocative remarks often ignite controversy. In a Fox News interview, he referred to Chinese people as “peasants,” prompting condemnation from the Chinese government as “uninformed.” Despite the demands of being next in line for the presidency, Vance remains active on social media, where he relentlessly targets opponents. After Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell opposed a Trump Pentagon nominee, Vance posted on X, “Mitch’s vote today—like much of his recent career—ranks among the pettiest political acts I’ve witnessed.” However, Vance has faced backlash. He and his wife were booed at a National Symphony Orchestra concert at the Kennedy Center after Trump replaced its bipartisan board and appointed himself chairman. Vance also recounted a March incident on social media, describing how “Slava Ukraini” protesters harassed him and frightened his three-year-old daughter during a walk. “Hoping to trade a brief conversation for them leaving my toddler alone, I engaged them,” he wrote on X. “The discussion was mostly civil, but you’re deplorable if you target a three-year-old for a political protest.” Vance also drew attention for a leaked Signal app conversation involving Trump administration officials discussing plans to strike Houthi rebels in Yemen, inadvertently shared with an Atlantic journalist. In characteristic fashion, Vance accused the Atlantic of exaggerating the story and misrepresenting the chat’s contents.

Global Advocacy

Vance has served as a key international representative for Trump, undertaking multiple overseas trips while the president remained stateside. He has met with heads of state, delivered speeches on artificial intelligence, and visited Holocaust sites. His address at the Munich Security Conference, however, garnered significant attention. In it, Vance sharply criticized European allies, urging them to stop suppressing dissent, uphold free speech, and significantly increase their defense contributions. The speech shocked attendees, with many viewing it as a turning point in U.S.-EU relations. Trine Flockhart, a professor at the Florence School of Transnational Governance, told a European University Institute panel, “Most interpreted the speech as signaling the collapse of the liberal international order.” She added that Vance’s remarks dismantled the core tenets of the transatlantic alliance—shared values, mutual respect, consultation, and a collective sense of threat—in a single moment. Later that month, Vance’s Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss ending Russia’s war in Ukraine further rattled global perceptions. Vance rebuked Zelenskyy for failing to show gratitude for U.S. aid and called him “disrespectful” for publicizing the conflict in the media. Several of Vance’s statements during the meeting were disputed by fact-checkers. He dismissed Zelenskyy’s invitation to visit Ukraine as a “propaganda stunt” aimed at securing war funding. Senate Armed Services Committee ranking Democrat Jack Reed of Rhode Island called the exchange “a disgraceful lapse in American leadership and a political ambush.” In a statement, Reed said, “President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people are fighting for their survival. Undermining Ukraine and our allies only advances the interests of Vladimir Putin.” Vance’s March visit to Greenland’s Pituffik Space Base, amid Trump’s expressed interest in purchasing the Danish autonomous territory, also drew scrutiny. The trip followed the cancellation of a planned vacation by Vance’s wife, Usha, after Greenland’s prime minister labeled her scheduled dogsled race visit “highly provocative” given Trump’s acquisition ambitions. In Greenland, Vance criticized Denmark for “underinvesting” in the island’s security, stating, “Why is Greenland so critical? We know China, Russia, and others are eyeing the Arctic’s shipping lanes, naval routes, and resources. America must lead in the Arctic.”

Potential Successor?

As Trump’s loyal advocate, Vance is building a global profile, positioning himself as a possible successor in the White House. His appointment last month as the Republican National Committee’s finance chairman—the first sitting vice president to hold the role—bolsters his access to wealthy donors for a potential 2028 campaign. Yet, Vance’s historically low approval ratings as a vice-presidential candidate have not improved in his first 100 days. According to Real Clear Politics’ polling average, as of last week, Vance’s approval rating stood at -5.2%, with 41.7% viewing him favorably and 46.9% unfavorably, slightly worse than Trump’s 45.5% favorable and 50.6% unfavorable ratings. A Washington Monthly analysis of Vance’s polling data notes that such low public approval for a new vice president is rare, labeling him the “most unpopular new vice president” in modern history and questioning whether his abrasive style will aid a future presidential bid. When Fox News asked Trump during a pre-Super Bowl interview if Vance would be his successor, Trump replied, “No,” describing Vance as one of several “capable individuals” who could follow him after his term limit. Trump has also floated the idea of ignoring the Constitution’s ban on a third presidential term. Of Vance, Trump said, “He’s doing an excellent job so far. It’s too early to say. We’re just getting started.” When asked about his 2028 plans, Vance downplays political ambitions, telling Fox News this month, “There’s so much work to do, and I’m not really thinking about what happens in three and a half years. If I do my job well, if the President delivers for Americans—and I know we will—the politics will sort itself out. Let’s just focus on doing good work.” Joel Goldstein, a St. Louis University law professor and author of two books on the vice presidency, notes that the role remains the strongest launchpad to the presidency. However, he points out that Trump has occasionally undermined Vance, such as by pardoning all those convicted for January 6, 2021, Capitol riot crimes, despite Vance’s earlier stance against pardoning violent offenders. Goldstein emphasizes that a vice president’s influence depends on being perceived as the president’s voice. “That may be the challenge of serving as Trump’s vice president,” Goldstein says. “Trump doesn’t always follow through on what he’s indicated. Vance may have acted based on a conversation with Trump, only for Trump to change course abruptly.” Goldstein adds that Vance’s political future will largely depend on the perceived success of Trump’s administration. “If the administration is seen as pursuing controversial policies that don’t improve American lives, they’ll face significant hurdles,” he says. “But if it’s viewed as successful, that will bolster Vance’s prospects.”

Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J.D. Vance is a powerful and poignant exploration of the author's upbringing in the Rust Belt, offering a deeply personal account of a community in decline. In this bestselling memoir, Vance reflects on his turbulent childhood in a family marked by addiction, poverty, and a disintegrating culture. Raised by his fiercely devoted but troubled grandparents, Vance offers a candid portrayal of the struggles faced by working-class Appalachians, confronting the deep social and economic challenges that have shaped his identity.

At the heart of Hillbilly Elegy is Vance's attempt to understand how the values and traditions of his upbringing—loyalty, honor, and resilience—coexisted with the harsh realities of economic hardship, fractured families, and a region in crisis. Through his journey from a chaotic childhood to attending Yale Law School, Vance examines the complexities of class, culture, and identity in modern America.

The purpose of Hillbilly VP is to analyze the story presented in JD Vance's best-selling memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, and then place it as the cornerstone for broader discussions of opioid abuse, trafficking, and politics, including JD Vance's likely run for President in 2028.

Hillbilly VP is divided into two sections. The first features JD Vance's story paraphrased and inspired by his own words. Then, it explores its main points, themes, and takeaways. The roles Big Pharma and unscrupulous prescription-happy physicians played in opioid addiction in the Appalachians come next. It finishes with the political impact of the Appalachians turning red for Presidential elections and JD's chances of winning the Presidency in 2028.

The second section investigates the suspicious actions and positioning of the Obama administration regarding the opioid crisis and drug trafficking.

Equal parts personal narrative and social commentary, Hillbilly VP is a timely and essential read for anyone seeking to understand the forces that shape the lives of working-class Americans, the government that seems to work against them, and the stories of survival that often go unheard.

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