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Trump’s VP Pick A Bid to Expand MAGA to New Generation

Posted on Tuesday, July 23, 2024
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by Walter Samuel
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19 Comments
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Looking back on J.D. Vance’s first week as the Republican vice-presidential nominee, it is hard not to conclude that Donald Trump has once again confounded conventional wisdom. Prophecies of political doom, both from worried Republicans and Democratic operatives whose mouths watered at the prospect of a target with a long record as a public intellectual have failed to materialize. Democrats have found there is little hay to be made accusing someone of expressing views they proudly stand by, and Vance has added new energy to the Republican ticket.

In the end, Democratic attacks fizzled, and Biden’s sudden withdrawal from the race is likely to refocus attention on the Democrat nomination fiasco, making it even more difficult for the media to define Vance. By the time attention returns, the chance to paint him as a “threat to democracy,” if it existed at all, will have been lost, and Republicans will be left with all the assets of J.D. Vance and few of the expected drawbacks.

If there is a lesson, and to be fair there are probably several, the core one is something we have all learned over the past decade: never underestimate Donald Trump. His choices may on occasion seem impulsive or in defiance of conventional wisdom, but he has a knack for being vindicated. Trump correctly read the room about his own party and about his opponents. Judging the likelihood of a Biden dropout, made a bet he felt confident he could win.

There are many words that can be used to describe the choice of John David Vance as the Republican nominee for Vice President of the United States. Bold. Transformative. High risk, but even higher reward.

The one word that stands out most, however, is “Trumpian.” At the end of the day, the decision did not fall to pollsters, media commentators, or interest groups. It fell to the gut instinct of one man. Donald Trump spent months listening to the pros and cons of the candidates, and he could have spent centuries. What he ultimately did was make a choice.

That was a choice to go with what Donald Trump believed he and America needed, rather than what specific factions or individuals necessarily wanted. The thing about J.D. Vance which separated him from other candidates is that whereas they each brought with them a mixture of strengths and weaknesses, Vance’s weaknesses are his strengths.

J.D. Vance is young. At 39, he is the first millennial to run on a national ticket, and he has served in the Senate for less than two years. His critics will argue that he is politically inexperienced on the national stage, and they are correct. He lacks the five decades Joe Biden spent in Washington, or the three decades it took Kamala Harris to fall upwards in California politics until the point at which father time and Donald Trump’s momentum have left her poised to bid for the nation’s highest office.

At a time when Biden’s decline has demoralized even the most partisan Democrats, and the American people have increasingly lost faith in their professional elites, is youth and inexperience really such a liability? Could Donald Trump ever truly win over those who maintained faith in Washington, no matter who he chose? Would it be possible for him to sleep soundly at night if he did?

There is a sentiment in political circles that a vice presidential pick should “do no harm.” To many campaign professionals, that has become a short hand for “pick someone who believes in nothing.” J.D. Vance is not that candidate. JD Vance, as the Democratic Party and mainstream media will be sure to tell us over the next few months, believes in things. He has opinions. He has expressed them. Worse, he has dared to partake of that most forbidden fruit for professional politicians: He has engaged in nuance.

For those in his generation, whose experience of politics was rival groups of well-heeled interns facing each other with signs saying, “Bush prevented another 9/11 by invading Iraq” and, “Bush lied, people died,” Vance has dared to suggest that both parties were full of it – that both had turned American foreign policy into a TV show for a generation whose children were all too often forced to pay the price of their proxy war.

Critics will allege there is an undercurrent of anger beneath Vance’s criticisms of America’s governance over the past three decades. What they miss is that his generation has every right to feel angry, and those who are not mad are more often than not in despair. The best years of their lives were spent mired in debates about reforming immigration, entitlements, and the tax system that amounted to nothing. Their inheritance and even the lives of their friends was spent on wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that their elders now pretend to forget.

Joe Biden had the nerve to stand up on stage at the presidential debate and suggest that no American service members died during his presidency, erasing from existence the 13 Americans who were killed during his bungled flight from Kabul. Or the three that were killed by Iran just this past year. Biden might well have forgotten their sacrifice, much as he is apt to forget the contents of his breakfast on any given day. But a generation of Americans have not.

In light of Biden’s withdrawal, it is useful to contrast JD Vance with prospective Democrat vice presidential pick Pete Buttigieg, who is in many ways his antithesis. At 42, Buttigieg is three years Vance’s elder, but his appeal lies with a different generation.

Buttigieg has been called a great communicator, but in reality he is a great marketing product. His appeal comes from presenting himself not as the genuine voice of his generation, but as the image of what older generations wish to believe it was – the successful young man who went to Harvard, served in the military, worked at McKinsey, and now spends his time telling his parents and their generation that they did well by him. That the dream of the 1990s, of Clintonian affluence without the need for responsibility or hard choices is alive and well with Pete.

The breadth of his appeal to the traditional media is no less surprising than how that appeal dissipated when it came to his own generation of Democratic primary voters, as well as African Americans, Latinos, and others forced to struggle with the reality of life in 21st century America, not a carefully curated illusion crafted for retired liberals.

Vance, on the other hand, is real. His views are real. His intensity is forged by experiences that, while shared in full by few, are shared in part by millions. Some left-wing critics have accused Donald Trump of picking a younger, miniature version of himself. This is vitriol with a nugget of truth. Donald Trump chose someone whose visceral appeal mirrored his own.

Donald Trump was the personification of the American dream of the 1980s. He truly believes that America was great and can be again. J.D. Vance is the personification of the America of the 2000s. Their youth opened with Star Wars prequels and the Lord of the Rings. Their young adulthood was consumed by Iraq, the global financial crisis, and the valium offered by an Obama administration which delivered the optics of deliberation while allowing the world to careen into chaos.

Donald Trump speaks for those who remember American greatness. J.D. Vance speaks for those who have been told that to even aspire to greatness is reprehensible. Donald Trump represents an America where companies bid for the stars, and sometimes fell to earth in bankruptcy. Vance represents an America in which major companies, too big to fail, focus on social engineering that tells young men that aspiring to anything greater is racist, sexist, or colonialist.

Neither approach is without risks, but what Trump grasped and his critics did not is that they are ultimately the same risk. There was no point in Donald Trump selecting a defensive vice president when his own nomination was already a decision by the Republican Party to go on the political offensive.

Trump had to choose between doubling-down or compromising his own message. He chose to double-down. He chose not to compromise his message, but to expand it to a new audience and a new generation.

It was a very Trumpian choice. And Democrats have yet to learn how to properly counter Trumpian strategies. So, that choice increasingly looks like the strategic one as well.

Walter Samuel is the pseudonym of a prolific international affairs writer and academic. He has worked in Washington as well as in London and Asia, and holds a Doctorate in International History.

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Max
Max
2 months ago

As to experience for Vance, IT IS OF A HIGHER QUALITY THAN THE COMBINE EXPERIENCE OF THE Pres. and VP, hands down.

Thinking
Thinking
2 months ago

Trump and Vance govern for the people. They have a vision for this country. They saw what we all saw the last 24 years we witnessed the decline of America at the greatest cost of those who lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan and those injured so terrific that they will have the effects of their injury with them for the rest of their lives. Tunnel to Towers organization makes this perfectly clear. Vance might be young but has more of a vision and a grasp what needs to be done than the 50 years in politics by Obiden. And then we have Kameltoe. If that is the best the dems have in their party. Enough said. She is the greatest threat to this country. We are a republic not an Empire with an Emperor at the helm. Obiden hasn’t taken responsibility for anything in this country. Like the Secret Service director who should have been fired days ago. But total radio silence. Today she resigned and what does ole Joe do? He with Jill send out a communique saying how sad they are and how she did such a wonderful job. My God, the only conclusion we can draw she allowed the shooting to happen with ole Joe’s blessing!!! No other conclusion we can infer from this communique. Both Dems and Reps yesterday were aghast at her answers, none answers and all called for her to be fired. And still total radio silence. And today we find out Cheatle got the job through DEI and being a friend of Jill. Meritocracy is dead and buried in this country and dictatorship alive and well. This is the result when you have empty headed leaders in this country and both Obiden and Kameltoe have to resign. This would never have happened under a Trump/Vance leadership. MAGA is needed will America survive.

Myrna
Myrna
2 months ago

I am so glad to be fully committed to voting from Trump and because he is clear, honest, and has common sense. He is not looking to any think tank to plan his administration. He is his own think tank.

Leslie
Leslie
2 months ago

The libs will certainly have to shut up about Vance’s wife being Indian, won’t they.

Leslie Jones
Leslie Jones
2 months ago

Hopefully vance brings the realization that we have bargained away industrial research and manufacturing, first to Japan and now to China. We will never overcome our $23 Trillion debt problem unless we get back to creating wealth. He saw it in Ohio as factories closed and more people depended on government handouts- the slippery slope. Joe Biden exacerbated the problem. 12 years of Trump/Vance could reverse the damage, so long as it remains their primary focus to encourage incentive and laud commercial success.

Philip Seth Hammersley
Philip Seth Hammersley
2 months ago

Vance has the true “rags to riches” experience but also how one good relative can steer a person UP to better themselves. DIMMs can (and will) criticize his lack of “political experience” but one must remember that they had no such qualms about Barry Soetero’s similar span of senate service! Plus, most Americans can now see that “political experience” can be a great NEGATIVE–just look at Schumer, Pelosi, and Slow Joe.

Robert Zuccaro
Robert Zuccaro
2 months ago

Vance has a compelling history and a complete opposite to Trumps life story. Yin and yang if you will which I think will play off well with each other.

Bob Olden
Bob Olden
2 months ago

I agree that Trump chose well and I can envision JD picking up where Trump leaves off. Brighter days may be ahead if we can make it through the next 6 months! Biden is doubly a lame duck since he’s deteriorated so much and he’s given up on the race. And the left has so many ways to shut down the will of the people! I’m glad I trust God, not government, with my future.

uncleferd
uncleferd
2 months ago

If altruism is back, then it’s time to require those on the left side of the aisle to stop lying in their political commentary.

Stephen Russell
Stephen Russell
2 months ago

MAGAize trhe GOP for the Future

Bob M
Bob M
2 months ago

I think Vance will be an excellent VP. HOWEVER, he must come out of his shell and hammer the platform points, ESPECIALLY economics, foreign policies, immigration, drug, i.e. fentanyl. He has to develop a hard-nose approach. Right now he appears to be cuddling voters. Be STRONG, CONFIDENT, and in ATTACK mode!

George M
George M
2 months ago

Nice article, very thought provoking! Well done!

Patriot Bill
Patriot Bill
2 months ago

Trump is notorious for poor selection of administration. Time will tell if Vance has true maga qualities or get paid off by the deep state. Donald is a rare commodity, immune to corruption.

illrede
illrede
2 months ago

the optics of deliberation while allowing the world to careen into chaos”
Something to that.
Wisdom as the appearance of being wise. Being seen to make decisions of great importance while being conflicted about them (but in the end aligning with one of two observances of “the Right Side of History” (1. What was going to happen anyway no matter what you did about it, 2. The expectations of a community that deifies itself).
Or wisdom as the consistent implementation of successful strategies, over a duration.

John Shipway
John Shipway
2 months ago

Sooo, Vance will spread MAGA to a young audience? Is MAGA of the sort to the firing of medical personnel who refused to take the poison that once was called a “vaccine”? How about calling for the punishment and/or dismissal of armed forces members also for refusing to take an experimental drug that never was a vaccine but has always been a poison? Vance did.
And now it appears that Vance has jumped on the “Iran evil” train and despite as of now being merely a junior Senator from Ohio, the man is insisting its “time to hit Iran and hit Iran hard”. This was said on the moronic television Sunday “news” shows on July 21.
Ok, great the man was raised by his “mee ma”, his grandmother as he had an absent dad and a drug abusing mother. Lots of people living on skid row that can beat Vance at having crappy childhoods. To the mans credit he did “pull himself up by the bootstraps” and became an attorney, a “venture capitalist” and then despite the odds a Senator from the state of Ohio.
The question remains and I will hold off until I hear more for me to decide, but is Vance really MAGA for any age group? We shall see.

Governor Tim Walz giving a speech at a Podium in September 2024
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