J.D. Vance possesses the quality Trump values most in a VP pick - spinelessness | Opinion

In March, Sen. J.D. Vance tweeted, "I have a long memory. If you’re fighting Trump and his endorsed political candidates today, don’t ask for my help in a year with your projects."

I have a long memory, too, Senator.

I remember, in 2016, Vance offering sharp criticism of Trump during his press tour for Hillbilly Elegy, a memoir that, as one Appalachian critic bluntly put it, primarily argues "poor people suffer because they don’t know any better."

I remember an August 2016 interview with Vance on Kentucky radio host Matt Jones’ podcast, where Vance told Jones, "I agree with you on Trump because I don’t think he’s the person. I don’t think he actually cares about folks."

I remember Vance’s appearance on ABC’s Powerhouse Roundtable, where he dismissed then-candidate Trump as someone who "doesn’t offer many solutions."

I even remember Vance telling NPR he’d consider voting Democrat before voting for Trump, joking, "I think there’s a chance, if I feel like Trump has a really good chance of winning, that I might have to hold my nose and vote for Hillary Clinton."

Sharp-tongued critic becomes docile Trump mouthpiece

These days, however, Vance is singing a much different tune. In the span of two election cycles, Vance has gone from a sharp-tongued critic to a docile Trump mouthpiece. And as a result, the once self-described "Never Trump guy" is now on the short list of candidates to be Trump's vice presidential running mate.

Vance abandoned his past principles to become Ohio's senator in Congress and appears eager to make another deal with the devil to be Trump's VP pick.

"J.D. Vance is − first, last, and always − an opportunist," said Dr. David Niven, an associate professor at the University of Cincinnati School of Public and International affairs. "He thought that Trump would be an electoral disaster in 2016, so he denounced him and positioned himself for a place leading the new Republican Party that would emerge after Trump. When that turned out not to happen, he simply pretended to believe something else."

More: From 'Hillbilly Elegy' to the White House? How JD Vance landed on Trump's VP shortlist

Vance attributes his change of heart on Trump to the former president's "policies," but it seems more likely his about-face was influenced by a thirst for political power than genuine admiration for the ex-president. Trump’s endorsement helped lift Vance to the Republican nomination for Ohio's U.S. Senate seat, which he went on to win in November 2022.

Vance is hardly the first or only elected Republican to bend to Trump for political gain. Critics of the ex-president haven't fared well in a Republican Party that functions more like a mob of Trump sycophants than a legitimate right-wing think tank.

Is Vance really the best VP choice for Trump?

But would Vance be the ideal running mate for Trump? Trump has said he doesn’t plan to make a choice until near the GOP convention in July, and Vance has downplayed the speculation while saying he would give serious consideration to a VP offer.

"The strength of J.D. Vance's running mate resume is his willingness to endure any level of self-abasement that Trump demands," Niven said.

While presidential candidates traditionally seek out running mates who offer complementary attributes the candidate lacks, Trump seems only interested in finding someone who shows what Niven called "total, unquestioning deference." By that standard, Vance seems more than qualified.

More: Donald Trump lunches with JD Vance and wealthy Cincinnati donors

When Trump told voters Vance was "kissing my a--" during his Senate bid, Vance neither protested nor stood up from himself. In fact, he worked even harder to win Trump's approval. Vance has been a busy Trump surrogate on national talk shows and even joined Trump's entourage in the New York courtroom for the former president's hush money trial. Vance has vigorously defended Trump even after his conviction on 34 felony counts while bashing the justice system.

Vance's flip-flopping record on Trump makes him look spineless, but spinelessness is one of the most attractive attributes Vance brings to the Trump campaign.

"That is exactly what Trump is looking for in a running mate − a weak-willed order taker," Niven said.

It's unfortunate that such a promising author has now relegated himself to a political career of masquerading loyalty to candidate known for chewing up and spitting out his inner circle, but I can't feel too bad.

That's what happens when you make a deal with the devil. You should remember that, Senator.

Meredith Perkins is an intern on the Opinion team at the Enquirer and currently attends Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, studying English and diplomacy. She is a native of Independence, Ky.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: J.D. Vance, former Trump critic, now wants to be Trump VP?