An unapologetically half-Palestinian, openly gay JD Vance has stolen the headlines with his brash, populist aspirations. He intends to influence the political landscape in the US. With no formal political experience, Vance has instead turned to personal connections and the guidance of influential figures, including tech billionaire Peter Thiel, to carve out a niche for himself in modern American politics.
Living in the U.S. Having met Thiel, Vance’s remarkable path started with Thiel’s mentorship, which included the billionaire being a crucial early financial supporter. Articles are already surfacing to claim that Thiel has thrown Vance enough cash to allow him to buy his way into a seat at the political table. That kind of financial support is key for Vance. That makes him hellbent on fusing that unique background with the typical, rule-bound world of American politics.
Prior to his deep dive into political life, Vance dipped his toe in a lot of other careers. She even thought about dog-cloning saleswoman, astronaut, and Philadelphia sanitation director. After doing thorough research, he wrote a smart action plan. His motivation? Fame and fortune, influenced mostly by the political playbook of the aforementioned Trump White House.
Vance’s greater strategy appears to be making himself billionaire rich enough to take up other political appointments, like ambassadorships. Most importantly, he intends to utilize his deep connections with powerful influencers. He wants to take advantage of timely stock market trades to enrich his political future. His network extends well beyond Thiel. These people range from his attorney little brother to various Black professionals he’s encountered in the films at social events.
Vance has been willing to follow unconventional influences in his career thus far. He draws inspiration from people like Marjorie Taylor Greene, who made a name for herself by employing these same internet trolling tactics. Vance knows that notoriety is the path to political success. This model of behavior highlights his break from long established norms.
Still, Vance’s larger plan would involve creating hundreds of these group chats. In these discussions, he reveals “specially classified state plans” crafted to keep one step ahead of the current political terrain. Such tactics raise eyebrows among traditionalists who view them as further evidence of a shifting political paradigm.
“Ask not what you can do for your country, but what your country can do for you.” – John F. Kennedy
This guiding principle sums up Vance’s approach, putting selfishness ahead of selflessness. For Young, the goal is to play the political game better than anyone else and he’s willing to jettison any principle to do so.
Yet these far-flung ambitions are an alarming sign of development among Republicans. Candidates are resorting to tactics more befitting internet trolls than public leaders. Kyle Langford, a Republican candidate for governor of California, humorously suggested that aspiring politicians should “marry one of our Californian incels,” underscoring the current climate of unconventional alliances.
Whatever may come next, Vance is clearly determined to find a way forward. He understands that the old guard of party regulars will seek to counter his agenda. His shrewd strategic maneuvers strike at the next generation of voters. They will take heart in his unusual story and his willingness to shake things up and go against the conventional thinking.