Newly released messages seem to challenge vice-presidential nominee JD Vance’s assertions about his evolving views on former President Donald Trump. During his 2021 Senate campaign, Vance had asked voters not to judge him by his past remarks, in which he labeled Trump as a “cynical a**hole,” a “moral disaster,” and “America’s Hitler,” among other derogatory terms.
He later stated, “I did say those critical things and I regret them, and I regret being wrong about the guy,” asserting that he voted for Trump in 2020 and praising his presidency for making positive decisions.
However, direct messages obtained by The Washington Post reveal a different narrative. In February 2020, Vance criticized Trump’s failure to deliver on his promises regarding economic populism, except for a “disjointed China policy.” He also predicted in a June 2020 message that Trump would likely lose to Joe Biden, stating, “I think Trump will probably lose.”
Despite these criticisms, Vance later joined Trump’s circle, falsely claiming that the 2020 election had been stolen from him. In the same June exchange, he mentioned that “Emperor Trump” had offered him a position in his administration, reflecting a significant shift from his earlier critiques to his eventual endorsement of Trump as “the best president of my lifetime.”