In the course of the common election, Vice President-elect JD Vance made it clear that he was the coverage assault canine and one of many main messengers for Donald Trump’s marketing campaign. Now his vice presidential tasks are taking form, with expectations that he shall be Trump’s “eyes and ears” in Congress, a supply advised ABC Information.
Main as much as the election, Vance stored a busy schedule that was a mixture of marketing campaign occasions and huge media appearances, together with TV interviews, sitting down for digital interviews, and showing on a few of the world’s most listened-to podcasts.
Throughout his election evening speech, Trump known as his operating mate “feisty” and praised his work on the marketing campaign path.
However as Vance enters his new position, a supply acquainted advised ABC Information that we should always count on him to play a special position than the one we have develop into accustomed to over the previous almost 4 months.
Vance has been tasked to make sure that all the priorities of the Trump administration transfer ahead and can work on any of the problems Trump wants him to additional, a supply acquainted advised ABC Information, signaling that Vance won’t be assigned one particular difficulty to work on, however shall be concerned in a number of coverage points.
Vice President-elect JD Vance walks on Capitol Hill on the day U.S. Senate Republicans meet to vote on management positions, together with Senate Majority Chief, for the 119th Congress in Washington, Nov. 13, 2024.
Leah Millis/Reuters
A few of the coverage points Vance could possibly be dispatched on embrace the economic system and immigration, which had been the core points Trump ran on throughout his marketing campaign, the supply stated.
It is also anticipated that Vance shall be Trump’s “eyes and ears” within the Senate to make sure that his agenda strikes ahead, the supply additionally stated.
It is acquainted territory for Vance, who was elected to the Senate in 2022. When Vance is sworn in as vp in January, he would be the youngest vp in fashionable American historical past and shall be coming into the workplace with a really temporary political portfolio, having simply these two years within the Senate as the primary political workplace he ever held.
Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, speaks outdoors after voting on the St Anthony of Padua Maronite Catholic Church on election day, Nov. 5, 2024, in Cincinnati.
Carolyn Kaster/AP
Vance can even be succeeding Trump’s final vp, Mike Pence, who broke with Trump when it got here to accepting the outcomes of the 2020 election and refused to concede to the strain from Trump to not certify the election outcomes.
Vance has proven to be completely different from Pence, remaining steadfast in his loyalty to the president-elect and defending him at each flip, one thing he spoke on earlier than changing into Trump’s vice presidential decide. Nonetheless, Vance as soon as made clear his disdain for Trump, saying he was a “never-Trump man” in an interview with Charlie Rose in 2016.
Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, speaks throughout a marketing campaign rally on Nov. 4, 2024, in Newtown, Pa.
Mark Schiefelbein/AP
A supply accustomed to Vance and Trump’s relationship stated Vance is concentrated on doing no matter is required to help the president-elect and the administration.
“So, whether or not which means specializing in a particular coverage difficulty or serving as his hammer to get issues throughout the end line within the Senate, JD is able to ship for the president,” the supply advised ABC Information. “They’ve constructed a detailed private friendship over the previous few years and due to that, have a variety of belief in one another.”
In June of this yr, Vance spoke at a Turning Level occasion the place he was requested what Trump wanted in a vp and Vance stated somebody who’s “not making an attempt to stab him within the again.”
“There are a variety of good, good folks that Trump is , however it additionally applies to our senators. It applies to our congressmen and girls too. We have to have people who find themselves supporting Trump — not making an attempt to stab him within the again. It’s totally, quite simple,” he stated.
