Portrait of 'deputy' JD Vance

(CLO) Vice President-elect JD Vance is considered the most likely candidate to succeed Donald Trump as the Republican Party's candidate in 2028.

With former President and now President-elect Donald Trump unable to run for the White House again in 2028, Vice President-elect JD Vance appears to be the Republican Party's heir apparent to that position.

This is a view emphasized by Mr. Donald Trump Jr., the former President's eldest son and a powerful ally of the Vice President-elect.

“We’re going to have four more years of Trump and then eight years of JD Vance!” Trump Jr. said two weeks ago during a campaign stop in Ohio. Vance, who was elected to the Ohio Senate two years ago, is likely to be the frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination.

Vice President-elect JD Vance and President-elect Donald Trump during an election night celebration at the Palm Beach Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., November 6. Photo: Bloomberg

Vice President-elect James David Vance is a politician, lawyer, author, and former Marine. A member of the Republican Party, he has served since 2023 as the junior U.S. senator from Ohio.

Former military journalist and 'huge' education, despite unhappy childhood

Vance, of Scots-Irish descent, was born in Middletown, Ohio on August 2, 1984. He has described his childhood as one of hardship and poverty, particularly as his parents divorced when he was a toddler, and his mother struggled with drug addiction. Vance and his older sister Lindsey were raised primarily by their maternal grandparents.

At age 17, Vance got his first job as a cashier at a local grocery store. After graduating from Middletown High School in 2003, Vance enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, where he served as a military journalist for the 2nd Marine Aircraft Squadron.

During his four years of service, he was deployed to Iraq in 2005 for six months as a non-combat photographer and writer. He achieved the rank of corporal and received medals including the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.

Vance attended Ohio State University from September 2007 to August 2009, graduating magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and philosophy. Vance then attended Yale Law School, where he befriended future Canadian Conservative Jamil Jivani.

During his first year, Professor Amy Chua convinced Vance to start writing a memoir. Vance then made a name for himself with his memoir, the 2016 bestseller “Hillbilly Elegy,” published when Trump was first running for president. The book earned Vance a reputation as someone who could explain the businessman’s appeal to middle-class Americans, especially working-class, rural white voters.

Donald Trump Jr. liked the book and knew Vance when he was starting his political career. The two got along well and remain friends.

First elected to public office

After Donald Trump won the 2016 election, Vance returned to his native Ohio and founded an anti-opioid charity. He also made speeches and was a popular guest at Republican Lincoln Day dinners, where his personal story, including the struggles he endured because of his mother’s drug addiction, was told.

Vance's appearance is a chance for him to promote his ideas for changing the country, while also helping lay the groundwork for his political entrance in 2021, when he seeks the Senate seat vacated by retiring Republican Rob Portman.

On May 3, 2022, he won the Republican primary with 32% of the vote, defeating several candidates, including Josh Mandel (23%) and Matt Dolan (22%). Vance then defeated Democratic candidate Tim Ryan to win the U.S. Senate election in Ohio.

On January 3, 2023, Vance was sworn into the Senate as a member of the 118th United States Congress. Data from mid-July 2024 shows that Vance has delivered 45 speeches on the Senate floor and introduced 57 legislative bills, none of which have passed the Senate. He has also co-sponsored 288 bills, including two that have passed both the Senate and the House but were vetoed by President Biden.

From opponent to loyal ally of Mr. Trump

In 2016, Vance was a “never Trump” Republican, describing Trump as “dangerous” and “unfit” to serve as president.

But by the time the two met in 2021, he had changed his stance, citing Mr Trump’s accomplishments as president. Both downplayed Vance’s harsh past criticism.

After being elected, Vance became a staunch ally of Mr. Trump on Capitol Hill, tirelessly defending Mr. Trump's policies and actions.

On January 31, 2023, Vance endorsed former President Donald Trump in the 2024 Republican presidential primary. On July 15, 2024, the first day of the Republican National Convention, Trump announced that he had chosen Vance as his running mate. Two days later, Vance accepted the nomination as Trump's "vice president."

Experts say Vance would bring to the Republican Party the same debating skills and ability to articulate a vision as Mr. Trump. Charlie Kirk, founder of the conservative activist group Turning Point USA, said Vance articulates Mr. Trump’s America First world view.

In his victory speech on election night, Mr. Trump noted that he faced some criticism in July for choosing Vance as his “vice president.” However, Mr. Trump insisted that Vance “turned out to be the right choice.”

Ngoc Anh

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/chan-dung-pho-tuong-jd-vance-tu-tuoi-tho-bat-hanh-nha-bao-chien-truong-den-pho-tong-thong-my-post321184.html