J.D. Vance, Senator from Ohio and Donald Trump’s choice for vice president, has an intriguing life story. Here are 27 key facts about him, derived from various sources, including his memoir “Hillbilly Elegy.”.
- Name Changes: Originally named James Donald Bowman, he became James David Hamel after his mother remarried, and finally settled on James David Vance.
- Father Figure: Vance’s father left when he was 6, leading to a yearning for a stable male role model throughout his childhood.
- Troubled Relationship with Mother: Vance’s mother, married five times, had episodes of abuse. A particularly traumatic event involved her threatening to crash their car.
- Raised by Grandparents: Vance spent much of his childhood with his grandparents, who were blue-dog Democrats with a deep love for their country and conservative social values.
- Teenage Music Preferences: As a teenager, Vance loved bands like Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin, though his religious father later encouraged him to listen to Christian rock.
- Acceptance of Gay People: Despite his conservative upbringing, Vance learned to accept gay people, thanks to his grandmother’s reassurance that being gay was okay.
- Stance on Marriage Equality: As a candidate, Vance stated he would vote against federal protections for gay and interracial marriage but acknowledged that gay marriage is the law of the land.
- Converted to Catholicism: In 2019, Vance was baptized into the Catholic Church, choosing St. Augustine as his patron saint.
- Marine Corps Service: Vance joined the Marines after high school and served in Iraq, which had a profound impact on him.
- Patriotic Feelings: He is deeply moved by Lee Greenwood’s song “Proud to Be an American,” often choking up when he hears it.
- Opposition to Birtherism: Vance was offended by the birther conspiracy against Barack Obama and worried about its impact on his hometown.
- Yale Law School: Vance felt out of place at Yale Law School, despite outwardly fitting in with the elite.
- Meeting His Wife: Vance met his wife, Usha, at Yale. They married in 2013 and had a Hindu pundit bless their union.
- Mentors and Influences: Amy Chua and David Frum were significant mentors for Vance. However, Frum later expressed regret over Vance’s political direction.
- Political Hero: Former Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels was a centrist hero for Vance, though Daniels noted Vance’s shift in political views as regrettable.
- 2016 Election: Vance did not vote for Trump in 2016, opting for independent candidate Evan McMullin instead.
- Understanding Trump’s Appeal: Vance understood Trump’s appeal early on but did not foresee him winning the general election.
- Social Media Clean-Up: Vance deleted old social media posts critical of Trump, including comparisons to “cultural heroin.”
- Wife’s Career: Usha Vance clerked for Supreme Court Justices John Roberts and Brett Kavanaugh, influencing Vance’s views on political and judicial matters.
- Views on Women’s Roles: Vance has traditional views on marriage and criticized the emphasis on women working in high-powered jobs over motherhood.
- Support from Peter Thiel: Tech mogul Peter Thiel donated $15 million to Vance’s Senate campaign and has been a significant supporter.
- Venture Capital: Vance’s firm, Narya Capital, invests in various startups, including a Catholic prayer app and the right-wing platform Rumble.
- Reconciliation with Trump: Thiel helped broker a meeting between Vance and Trump at Mar-a-Lago, boosting Vance’s political career.
- Film Adaptation: Vance was an executive producer for the film adaptation of “Hillbilly Elegy,” though it received mixed reviews.
- Close with Donald Trump Jr.: Vance maintains a close relationship with Donald Trump Jr., frequently communicating and collaborating on social media.
- Trump-Approved Beard: Trump has complimented Vance’s beard, likening him to a young Abraham Lincoln.
- Political Future: As Trump’s vice presidential pick, Vance’s political journey continues to be one to watch closely.
These insights into J.D. Vance’s life paint a vivid picture of a man shaped by complex experiences and shifting political landscapes. For more engaging content, stay tuned to our blog!
