Trump VP pick: Is JD Vance the best choice?

Rob (No)

It's not surprising that Trump chose JD Vance as his vice president pick, considering they share many political views. Still, a recent survey shows Trump would undoubtedly do better with another candidate, at least according to 20% of US adults.

For starters, JD Vance is relatively new to politics and has limited experience in the field, meaning he might lack enough understanding of both domestic and international politics. Vance's inexperience could be a liability since a vice president must be capable of stepping in as president in the event something happens to the sitting president. 

Despite a short history in politics, Vance is also not new to controversy. He's known to have polarizing political views that could alienate many voters. For example, he’s anti-abortion, has introduced bills to ban federal DEI programs, and is in favor of withholding federal funding for universities found to foster encampments among the Israel-Gaza war protestors.  

He’s also been quoted making inflammatory remarks, including that moms and dads should stay in violent or unhappy marriages for the “sake of their kids.” Activists are already campaigning against this alliance, saying it has the potential to be “the most dangerous administration for abortion and reproductive freedom in this country’s history.” Adding Vance to the ticket could possibly be a far too aggressive move for Trump's campaign to make, especially when he needs widespread support to win.

While Vance, a former fierce critic of Trump, might be popular among MAGA supporters, he lacks the broader appeal Trump needs to win other Americans. It also doesn’t help that he's closely associated with Ohio, a state Trump has had no trouble winning in previous elections. It would make more sense for Trump to partner with someone with a different base of supporters, like Tim Scott.

Mark (Yes)

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump made the right choice, with JD Vance as his running mate. While Vance had been a Trump detractor in the past, he has not been in several years, with Trump even endorsing him for his 2022 Ohio Senate race. Trump picking Vance indicates that Vance will not be merely Trump's subservient yes-man, as Vance is outspoken and opinionated. He likely won’t idly stand by and allow any bad decisions to happen. Likewise, Vance is highly educated and hardworking, graduating from Yale Law School and serving as the editor of The Yale Law Journal and President of the Yale Law Veterans Association. He is the first veteran to run on a presidential ticket since John McCain. 

Vance knows that the working class is the backbone of America and has consistently championed for them. In doing so, he has admonished the wealthy for their tactics, proving that he won’t be influenced by Donald Trump’s status or anyone else’s. Speaking of which, much commotion has made the rounds about Vance being a relative unknown. Another reason he is the ideal candidate is that he is not burdened by any pre-existing political agenda. 

Vance is an independent thinker, and he has proven this by previously denouncing Trump’s guerilla strategy regarding policy and domestic issues. Being 39, he’s more relatable to younger voters than Trump is on his own. JD Vance is the right candidate to ensure the Trump administration brings back a sense of decorum to the White House and global diplomacy. Vance’s seen the issues that plague the core of our society first-hand, such as poverty and addiction. If Trump finds himself in the White House again, we can rest assured knowing that JD Vance is by his side.