Berlin. JD Vance once compared Trump to Adolf Hitler. Those times are over - soon the Republican will be Vice President with Trump.
- JD Vance entered the race for the US presidency alongside Donald Trump
- Together, the Republicans won, and now the former senator will be vice president
- You can read here the most important information about the politician’s private life and political career
He is a political stalwart and will soon become the second most powerful man in the USA: JD Vance. The Republican won the 2024 US election as “running mate” alongside Donald Trump. Vance comes from a humble background, had a difficult childhood and then he fought his way up step by step. He worked in the financial sector, wrote a bestseller called “Hillbilly Elegy” about his origins and was a harsh critic of Trump at first before completely changing his views and switching to the Republican camp.
He is now one of the hardliners and stands for ultra-conservative positions. This is the most important information about JD Vance.
JD Vance: Profile with the most important information
JD Vance: Education, wife, career – private life info
A little known fact: JD Vance wasn’t always called JD Vance. He was born as James Donald Bowman on August 2, 1984 in Middletown, Ohio. He grew up there in broken circumstances; his father Donald left the family early, his mother Beverly Carol was addicted to drugs and he was unable to take care of little James and his sister Lindsey. The siblings then lived with their maternal grandparents – Bonnie and James “Jim” Vance. Vance later described them as “the best thing that ever happened to me” in his book “Hillbilly Elegy.”
JD Vance with his wife Usha, whom he met while studying at Yale.
© Getty Images via AFP | Allison Joyce
Apparently his grandmother Bonnie was a determined personality who set James on the right path and encouraged him to work hard. After His parents were divorced James eventually dropped his father’s name, “Donald,” and
- Education: JD Vance enlisted in the US Marines after graduating from high school and served there from 2003 to 2007. In 2005, he deployed to Iraq for six months, working in the public relations department. In this role he came into contact with journalists for the first time. Vance then studied political science and philosophy at Ohio State University and, according to his own statement, worked for a Republican representative in the Ohio Senate. With a scholarship, Vance was able to study law at the elite Yale University. In 2013 he completed his studies with a Juris Doctor.
- family: At Yale, Vance met Usha Chilukuri, who was of Indian descent and was also studying law there. The couple married in 2014 and first lived in San Francisco until 2017. The three children, two sons and a daughter, were born in 2017, 2020 and 2021. The family now lives in Columbus, Ohio.
- Profession: After graduation, Vance first worked for the law firm Sidley Austin LLP. In 2016, he joined an investment firm in San Francisco and became managing director of Mithril Capital, a company founded by German-American billionaire Peter Thiel. Thiel was Vance’s most important supporter not only professionally but also politically. PayPal’s founder is considered a fan of Donald Trump and is said to have financially supported his 2016 election campaign.
- Buch: In 2016, JD Vance published his autobiographical book “Hillbilly Elegy,” in which he deals with his “Rust Belt” origins while growing up in precarious circumstances. He vividly describes the concerns, needs and views of the white working class. Chancellor Olaf Scholz admitted in an interview that the book moved him to tears. “Hillbilly Elegy” reached number one on the New York Times bestseller list and was later made into a movie. The German edition was published by Ullstein-Verlag. After Vance’s political change, Ullstein decided in July of this year not to reprint the book and not to renew the licensing agreement with Vance. The publisher argued that Vance represents ”aggressive, demagogic, exclusive politics.”
- Assets: JD Vance became a millionaire. The portal celebritynetworth.com recently estimated that his fortune was around five million dollars. The politician is said to have shares in over 100 companies. He also receives a salary as a United States senator ($174,000 per year) and as a partner at the venture capital firm Narya ($327,000). There are also royalties from sales of his books. Vance himself said he was paid the equivalent of 436,000 euros in 2021 alone.
JD Vance: The most important steps of his career
Politically, JD Vance has a significant head U-turn done. As recently as 2016, the man from the Midwest was nothing more than a full-blown Trump. Vance denied him any political competence, describing him as a “fraud,” a “moral disaster” and a “cultural heroin.” In a private message to a friend, Vance even asked if Trump was not like “Hitler’s America.”
JD Vance (left) is one of Donald Trump’s most loyal followers.
© AP/dpa | Evan Vucci
Trump later summed it up dramatically: “JD kissed my ass, he wants my support so badly.” But for Vance, it was just the first step in becoming a Senator for Ohio: on July 15, Donald Trump made his Run mate for the November 5 presidential election, which the duo ultimately won.
JD Vance: What positions is the vice presidential candidate running for?
The Yale graduate, once a liberal, has sided with Republican hardliners and the “Make America Great Again” movement. Many people already consider it to be Trump’s crown prince. It should also help him because he can count on influential sponsors like Peter Thiel and Elon Musk.
- War in Ukraine: JD Vance is against further financial and military support for Ukraine. Just a few days before the start of the war, Vance said: “I don’t care what happens to Ukraine, one way or the other.” “By the way, the Germans and other countries have to finance the reconstruction of Ukraine,” Vance said in an interview. He refuses Ukraine to join NATO. Russia should also recognize the country’s territorial integrity as part of a peace plan;
- Economic policy: JD Vance is surprisingly employee friendly. He has repeatedly spoken in favor of a minimum wage and raising higher taxes on certain companies. Sometimes his rhetoric has elements of class struggle, for example when he rails against the “ruling class” and “Barons of Wall Street”. In return, he proposes higher tariffs and a protectionist trade policy, especially towards China and Europe.
- The family and society: The Midwesterner once described himself as an atheist. A few years ago, Vance converted to Catholicism. Since then, he has represented conservative reactionary positions on family policy and the issue of abortion. As an Ohio senator, Vance consistently voted against abortion law protections and access to abortion. Now a strict Catholic, he emphasizes the “sanctity of marriage” and said in an interview in 2022 that “violent marriages” should continue in some cases.
- Migration: JD Vance also emerged as a tough leader on this issue. He has repeatedly spoken of a “crisis” on the southern border with Mexico and has supported a border wall. In an interview with Fox News in June 2024, he spoke in favor of “large-scale migrant realisation”. Recently, he claimed that pets were “kidnapped and eaten” by “people who do not belong to our country”. Vance was later forced to admit that he had made this claim.
JD Vance: Profile Overview
- Full Name: James David “JD” Vance
- Date of Birth: August 2, 1984
- Current Office: United States Senator
- Political Party: Republican Party
- Marital Status: Married, with one daughter and two sons
Background and Early Life:
JD Vance, originally named James Donald Bowman, was born in Middletown, Ohio. He faced a tumultuous childhood marked by family struggles, including his father’s departure and his mother’s battle with addiction. Vance credits his grandparents, Bonnie and James “Jim” Vance, for providing a stable and supportive environment during his formative years. He has often described them as a pivotal influence in his success, as depicted in his bestselling book, Hillbilly Elegy.
Education:
- Military Service: Vance enlisted in the U.S. Marines shortly after high school and served from 2003 to 2007, including a six-month deployment in Iraq.
- Bachelor’s Degree: He attended Ohio State University, majoring in political science and philosophy, where he also worked for a Republican representative in the Ohio Senate.
- Law Degree: Vance earned a Juris Doctor from Yale University in 2013, where he met his wife, Usha Chilukuri.
Professional Career:
- Vance worked at the law firm Sidley Austin LLP before joining Mithril Capital, an investment firm in San Francisco founded by Peter Thiel, where he eventually became managing director.
- His memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, published in 2016, explores his upbringing and the struggles of the white working class. The book became a bestseller and was adapted into a film.
Personal Life:
- JD Vance married Usha Chilukuri in 2014. The couple has three children: two sons and a daughter, living in Columbus, Ohio.
Political Journey:
Vance initially criticized Donald Trump, labeling him a ”fraud” and a “moral disaster,” and expressing concerns regarding his competency. However, he later shifted his views and aligned himself with Trump’s administration, ultimately becoming a prominent supporter and one of Trump’s loyal followers. This political transformation has been marked by a shift towards ultra-conservative stances.
Political Positions:
- Foreign Policy: Vance opposes further military support for Ukraine, stating that he does not care about the country’s fate and suggesting that European nations should finance its reconstruction.
Vance’s political trajectory reflects a significant shift from his previous liberal leanings towards a strong conservative alliance, particularly with the MAGA movement and influential allies like Peter Thiel and Elon Musk.