J.D. Vance is another Trump casualty
J.D. Vance, once seen as a potentially reasonable, rational conservative voice, has become another casualty of Trumpism. Vance was critical of Trump, comparing him to Adolf Hitler, but later claimed the media had misled him with "dishonest fabrications." His journey mirrors other conservatives who have been dragged into Trump’s orbit, finding themselves compromising past values. The reality behind Vance's selection as vice-presidential candidate is disturbing at best: the previous guy wouldn't do it because Trump threatened the lives of him and his family.
Vance’s earlier criticisms of Trump were quite harsh. Vance use to worry Trump was "America’s Hitler" and called him "a moral disaster." But as the political winds shifted, Vance reconciled with the former president, blaming media manipulation for his prior views. In a debate, Vance argued, "I was wrong because I believed some of the media stories," but his change of heart didn’t come without questions about his motivations. His eventual climb into Trump’s good graces culminated in his being chosen as Trump’s running mate.
As Vance continues to navigate Trumpism, a journalist might ask a pointed question: has he ever, in his life, compared anyone else to Adolf Hitler or Nazis? If so, who?
Politico, The Atlantic, The New York Times, The Guardian, AP News.
