If there was any takeaway from Sen. JD Vance’s first interview since turning into the GOP nominee for Vice President of the USA, it is that he mentioned nothing particularly fascinating.
It is precisely the type of factor he’ll have to preserve doing to stay in former President Donald Trump’s good graces.
On Monday evening, the Ohio senator sat for an interview with Sean Hannity, the place the Fox Information host lobbed a wide range of softball questions at Vance centered on his biography, his views on hot-button GOP points, and his previous criticisms of Trump.
“I used to be definitely skeptical of Donald Trump in 2016, however President Trump was an awesome president and he modified my thoughts,” Vance mentioned, issuing the identical rationalization he is delivered a number of instances earlier than. “I purchased into the media’s lies and distortions.”
Over the course of roughly half-hour, Vance made it apparent why he was the best decide for somebody like the previous president, who famously values loyalty: He was positive to clarify, on a number of events, that he can be a loyal soldier for Trump, whereas doing little to trigger controversy on his personal.
Requested about his view of the vice presidency, Vance mentioned that his job can be to “help the president in enacting the agenda.”
“Donald Trump cannot be in every single place,” Vance mentioned. “So you have to be an individual he can belief, who he can depend on to truly advance the agenda. That is crucial job.”
Crucial perform of the vp, traditionally talking, has been to function a back-up to the president within the occasion that they’re unable to meet their duties.
However Vance was positive to say that he didn’t consider he would discover himself within the presidency earlier than 2028, declaring that Trumps “very wholesome” and “going to serve 4 superb years.”
The Ohio senator additionally alluded to a central reality of the previous president’s first time period, one thing that finally led then-Vice President Mike Pence to resists Trump’s efforts to overturn the election on January 6: Not all Republicans had been as loyal as Vance claims he shall be.
“We have got to have Republicans who’re serving to him with the agenda,” he mentioned. “As profitable as he was politically, even after he was elected, sure Republicans did not wish to truly enact an America First agenda. You have to have leaders in Washington who’re supporting him, not preventing towards him.”
Over time, points of daylight between Vance and Trump are prone to grow to be extra clear, particularly if the vice presidential nominee sits for much less pleasant interviews.
As an illustration, the Ohio senator has traditionally held views to the best of the previous president on abortion, supporting federal restrictions on the apply whereas Trump states that he favors a state-by-state method.
“My view is that Donald Trump is the chief of the Republican Social gathering, and his views on abortion are going to be the views that dominate this get together and drive this get together ahead,” mentioned Vance on Monday.
