J.D. Vance’s Rising Role in Trump’s Campaign Reveals “Disturbing” Conservative Thinking, Analyst Suggests
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Despite Sen. J.D. Vance’s declining popularity, former President Donald Trump has placed him at the forefront of his reelection campaign—a move that one political analyst finds revealing about the state of conservative politics. In her latest column for Salon, Amanda Marcotte expressed surprise that Vance’s controversial comments and extreme views haven’t diminished his standing among Trump’s supporters.
“Everyone in reality-based America agrees: Sen. JD Vance of Ohio is not well-liked,” Marcotte wrote. “Yet, if you listen to people in the MAGA Republican world, you’d think Vance is a superstar.” Marcotte pointed to a growing list of problematic remarks from Vance, including his musings on the “purpose of the postmenopausal female” and his belief that hunger is a “great motivator” for the unemployed.
Despite these comments, prominent conservative figures continue to praise Vance’s role in the 2024 campaign. Conservatives like National Review editor Rich Lowry and Fox News host Laura Ingraham have praised Vance for his energy, humor, and poise. However, as Marcotte noted, his favorability ratings have plummeted, falling even lower than Sarah Palin’s during her infamous vice-presidential run.
“Despite early speculation that Trump would ‘regret’ picking Vance, the New York Times reports that ‘Trump could not be happier’ and ‘has privately praised Mr. Vance by comparing himself to Vince Lombardi, telling people that his eye for political talent was now on par with the Hall of Fame football coach,'” Marcotte wrote.
She also highlighted Sen. Steve Daines of Montana, who oversees Republican Senate campaigns, saying that Vance has “really been very impressive.” However, Marcotte argued that Vance’s close alignment with Project 2025—the controversial Republican policy platform that Democrats warn Trump would champion if reelected—along with his comments labeling childless Americans as sociopaths are troubling.
According to Marcotte, this disconnect between Vance’s declining popularity and his central role in Trump’s campaign suggests two possibilities. Either Vance is compensating for a disengaged Trump, who has remained largely at his Florida social club, or something “darker” is at play, signaling a deeper shift in conservative priorities. Marcotte concluded that Vance’s continued prominence in the campaign reflects a disturbing reality about the direction of the MAGA movement and its disregard for traditional measures of electability.
“His personality traits that alienate average Americans — his contempt, his pomposity, his unvarnished misogyny — are attractive in the upside-down world of MAGA. These are the same folks who listen to an elderly man in orange makeup whine for hours and somehow read that as ‘virility’ and ‘strength.’ Petulance is an admirable quality in the MAGA universe. Behaving like a jerk is aspirational. They don’t seem to get that bullies are usually overcompensating. People like Vance always punch down and kiss up, which is why he’s always fawning over Trump, a man he once privately compared to Hitler. This is weak and spineless behavior, but because it’s cruel, it reads as ‘mighty’ in the sadistic alternative universe of MAGA.'”
