J.D. Vance has said very different things about Donald Trump over time, moving from harsh critic to close ally and running mate.

Early “Never Trump” criticism

  • In 2016, Vance described himself as a “Never Trump guy” and said he “couldn’t stomach” voting for Trump, indicating he would back a third‑party candidate instead.
  • He called Trump an “idiot,” “reprehensible,” and in one remark said he went “back and forth” between seeing Trump as a cynical politician or “America’s Hitler,” reacting in part to Trump’s rhetoric about immigrants and Muslims.

Shift to supporter and defender

  • After entering electoral politics and seeking Trump’s endorsement, Vance deleted or walked back some of his old posts and began praising Trump’s record, especially on trade, wages, and immigration.
  • In later interviews and on the 2024 vice‑presidential debate stage, he said he had been “wrong about Donald Trump,” arguing that Trump delivered rising wages, a stronger economy for “normal Americans,” and a tougher southern border.

How Vance explains the change

  • Vance has said he initially believed negative media narratives about Trump, but later decided his disagreement was more about style than substance, especially on issues like free trade, foreign policy, and economic populism.
  • He now frames the reversal as learning from experience, saying that when a politician “screws up” or “misspeaks” and then changes their mind, they should be honest with the public that they were wrong before.

Recent tone and ongoing comments

  • As a top Trump ally, Vance has defended Trump over controversies like the 2020 election and January 6, questioning how much danger then–Vice President Mike Pence was in and criticizing the focus on Trump’s responsibility.
  • At the same time, coverage notes Vance presents himself as more disciplined in style than Trump while fully embracing Trump’s agenda and base, making his earlier anti‑Trump quotes a recurring point of attack in news and forums.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.