JD Vance, a 40-year-old senator and staunch ally of Donald Trump, elected as the next vice president of the United States on Wednesday, becoming the third-youngest person and one of the most divisive figures to hold the office. In a message after his victory, Vance expressed heartfelt gratitude to his Indian-American wife, Usha Chilukuri Vance, writing on X, “THANK YOU! To my beautiful wife for making it possible to do this.”
Vance also extended his appreciation to President-elect Donald Trump and the American people. “To President Donald J Trump, for giving me such an opportunity to serve our country at this level. And to the American people, for their trust. I will never stop fighting for ALL of you,” he wrote.
Only two years after beginning his first public office as a senator from Ohio, Vance is set to become the nation’s 50th vice president. His trajectory to this role has been unlike that of any modern vice president, given his early history as a vocal critic of Trump, whom he once likened to “cultural heroin.”
Vance rose to prominence in 2016 with his memoir Hillbilly Elegy, which offered a perspective on the frustrations and struggles of the white working class that were key to Trump’s initial rise. Seen as a bridge between conservative Midwesterners and liberal readers, Vance initially opposed Trump, frequently voicing his disapproval.
However, as he prepared for his own political career, Vance underwent a transformation, becoming a fierce defender of the man he once criticised. Trump’s eventual endorsement helped Vance secure a tight four-way Republican primary in Ohio and later played a critical role in his Senate victory.
Now, Vance’s political fortunes are inextricably tied to Trump’s influence. As one of the most indebted vice presidents to a sitting president in recent memory, his loyalty marks a new chapter in the role, according to Joel Goldstein, an emeritus professor at St. Louis University School of Law and an expert on the vice presidency.