Republican JD Vance journeys from 'Hillbilly Elegy' memoirist to US senator to VP contender
“Hillbilly Elegy” author JD Vance sharply criticized Donald Trump during the 2016 election cycle, before changing course and embracing the former president
By Julie Carr Smyth
Published - Jul 01, 2024, 12:14 AM ET
Last Updated - Jul 01, 2024, 12:14 AM EDT
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — It was March 2022 and Senate candidate JD Vance was standing under hot lights in a Cleveland television studio debating four fellow Republicans on whether the U.S. should support a no-fly zone over Ukraine, not a month into its grinding war with Russia.
“Absolutely not,” Vance said.
“I'm in the minority up here,” the Marine veteran added, “because, at the end of the day, we can accept as individuals, look, it’s tragic, it’s terrible. What Vladimir Putin did was wrong in invading a sovereign country on his border. But we have our own problems in the United States to focus on.”
Vance was "putting America’s priorities ahead of all else," his campaign said — and he had caught Donald Trump's attention.
