When I envision JD Vance, who was the vice-presidential pick for Trump, I picture an accomplished acrobat at a circus, who manages to navigate his path to the pinnacle of a human pyramid with the voluntary support of others. This achievement is particularly remarkable for a self-proclaimed hillbilly, who, at 39, became a vice presidential candidate.
Vance’s astonishingly rapid ascent to power has been spurred by a wide array of people. His autobiographic novel, Hillbilly Elegy – later turned into a film – painted a candid image of his extended family’s poverty, addiction, violence and, of course, the fierceness and bravery of a few of them, which immediately captured public fascination. One dominant figure in his memoir is his audacious and protective grandmother, known as Mamaw, who once set her husband aflame on coming home intoxicated for the countless time – he survived with minor injuries. It could be said that Mamaw believed strongly in standing up for oneself; she even taught Vance how to respond apropos to a bully at primary school. He acknowledges her role in his escape from the brutal cycle that engulfed many of his family members.
Vance’s influencers extend to include Peter Thiel, a conservative libertarian tech mogul, who has previously made significant investments in the likes of PayPal and Facebook. Worryingly, Thiel is a pioneer in incorporating AI in warfare practices, currently testing his program in Ukraine, and even gifted $15m to Vance’s senate campaign.
There are also recipients of Thiel’s funding who are, at best, mildly enthusiastic about democracy – predominantly, techno-libertarians. Included among them is blogger Curtis Guy Yarvin (or Mencius Moldbug as he’s known), who believes that democracy in America has been unsuccessful and advocates for a pseudo-monarchical entity, similar to a company’s CEO, to take its place. Vance is known to move within the same circles as Yarvin.
Usha, the wife of Vance, is a significant figure in his life. Her heritage draws comparison to that of Kamala Harris; both women hail from South Asian roots, a trait that both have been targeted for in malicious online onslaughts, considering her immigrant ancestry and skin hue. Usha, like Harris, is an active law practitioner who was previously associated with a law firm based in Los Angeles.
It was during Vance’s tenure as a Marine and subsequent law education at Yale, where Usha played the role of his guiding light, helping him navigate a system that was otherwise incomprehensible to him. Her influence on Vance’s journey from the Marines—where his vocations included media and communications—to Yale, under the mentorship of Amy Chua of the “Tiger Mother” fame, and then onto venture capital, cannot be stressed enough.
When news circulated that the Vances had purchased a house in the high-end Del Ray district of Washington, the reaction was a neighbour engaging in yarn bombing. This involved draping hand-crafted LGBT+ symbols on trees and telephone poles as a reminder to Vance of basic liberties. This pointed gesture overlooked the fact that one of Vance’s key mentors, Thiel, is openly gay, a fact that can’t simply be diminished through yarn bombing.
Vance’s evolving positions reflect his relentless pursuit of personal ambition, as demonstrated by his recent conversion to Catholicism, an event not yet included in his outdated Hillbilly Elegy. This shift in his religious belief, according to him, aligns better with his upbringing amidst poverty and dysfunction as it places a higher emphasis on families, communities, and virtues, distinguishing it from the Right’s culture and individual responsibility approach. His published piece, How I Joined the Resistance, highlights the significance of Catholicism in his worldview, undeniably demonstrating his ability to adjust his beliefs to achieve his goals.
He recognises the left’s softer approach, which he simplifies as equating everything to living conditions yet hardly expecting individuals to establish communal bonds or rise above their conditions. With the same regard, while he once loathed Trump, he now stands beside him as his vice-presidential nominee. Regardless of his previously strong opposition to abortion, he shows flexibility on the issue, including the use of abortion pills. In 2023, such medication accounted for 63% of all abortions in the USA.
Despite his extensive ties to Silicon Valley, Vance is allegedly not a big proponent of large tech companies, preferring smaller ones. He steps forward to support Lina Khan, another South Asian-American and the antitrust commissioner in Biden’s administration, for her stellar job in trying to curb the overarching power of big tech giants. He thinks it’s essential to lessen their power, as companies like Google wield excessive influence, even on voters’ access to information.
Anyone who attempts to foretell the outcome of the presidential race would be considered unwise. Harris might surprisingly sweep the elections, despite her seeming lack of any strong passion, save for the abortion issue. Her eccentric public speeches continue to fuel internet jokes.
Vance’s impressive intelligence, clear articulation, and shockingly adept capacity for tactical compromise make him a formidable force in the political game. As his lofty aspirations continue to propel him forward, it remains unclear what the future holds for him in the unpredictably chaotic world of US politics.