Next to Trump is J.D. Vance, his 2024 running mate and current Vice President. Once a vocal skeptic of Trump, Vance authored the bestselling memoir Hillbilly Elegy, which chronicled the struggles of America’s working class in the Rust Belt. He has since emerged as a leading voice for economic populism, skepticism of endless foreign wars, and cultural conservatism. His rapid rise reflects the party’s shift toward younger, more combative leaders who prioritize domestic manufacturing, border security, and opposition to what they call elite overreach.
