J. D. Vance makes his mark as the first millennial vice president
Vice President J. D. Vance has been sworn in as the 50th Vice President of the United States.
He makes history as the first millennial to serve in the role and the first vice president in nearly two decades with young children.
Vance hasn’t been assigned a specific portfolio in the White House like some of his predecessors. While he has long-standing areas of interest, from tech and disaster relief to immigration, people close to the former Ohio senator say he sees his role as doing whatever is needed to best help President-elect Donald Trump and his incoming administration accomplish his agenda. He is also expected to be a liaison to Capitol Hill, leveraging relationships he built during his two years in the Senate.
It has been an astounding eight years for the 40-year-old “Hillbilly Elegy” author, who has transformed himself from a former venture capitalist and harsh Trump critic. Vance will be a critical part not just of Trump’s return to the White House but the future of his political movement. With Trump prevented by the Constitution from running in 2028, Vance is a natural successor.
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., recently traveled with Vance to North Carolina to meet with victims of Hurricane Helene. She suggested his relative youth on the national stage gave Vance certain advantages including a comfort with social media and different communication style.
“I think because he is younger he has a boldness that – with the exception of President Trump – as you age, your boldness I think becomes shade by lessons learned over the years,” Capito said.
People close to Vance like to stress that he is a regular person — “about as normal a guy as there’s ever been in politics,” Moreno said — with a working-class background.
“He’ll wear sweatshirts. He roots for sports teams… He’s a guy’s guy. He’s a bro’s bro,” said Terry Schilling, president of American Principles Project, who has been advising Vance informally on cultural and family issues since he started running for the Senate. “He’ll have a beer with you. He’ll watch a football game with you. He’ll tease you, he’ll rib you. He’s also going to work hard and be serious when he needs to.”
