AMERICA MISSION
JD Vance, MAGA’s VP and America Mission’s Newest Face of Intrepidity
From ‘Hillbilly Elegy’ to political royalty, the maybe VP’s story is an American dream worth a read.
In this week’s Faces of Intrepidity, a series where America Mission™ explores the brave and dauntless figures that the culture war has to offer, we’re profiling President Donald Trump’s running mate Senator JD Vance. Vance’s life story is deeply rooted in the struggles of America’s working class. He grew up in a family marked by economic hardship, domestic struggles, and the opioid crisis. He rose the ranks in more ways than one, becoming a classic example of the American dream.
Rust Belt Roots
James Donald Bowman was born in 1984, in Middletown, Ohio. His parents divorced when he was young and he was adopted by his mother’s third husband, Bob Hamel. His mother changed his name to James David Hamel to nix his father’s name but kept his “JD” initials by changing his middle name to an uncle’s. JD’s childhood was rocky, plagued by poverty and abuse, resulting in his grandparents becoming his caretakers.
The Marine
After high school, Vance joined the U.S. Marine Corps from 2003 to 2007. He deployed in 2005 during the Iraq War. He served in a non-combat role as a military journalist, writing articles and taking photographs. Vance has credited his service for instilling discipline and direction in his life.
Following his military service, Vance went back to school, graduating from Ohio State University in 2009 with a degree in political science and philosophy. His academic journey continued to Yale Law School, where he earned his J.D. in 2013. That same year, he changed his name to Vance, after his maternal grandmother.
The Lawyer and Venture Capitalist
Vance briefly practiced as a corporate lawyer at Sidley Austin. Afterward, Vance ventured into venture capitalism in the tech industry, working as a principal at Peter Thiel’s firm, Mithril Capital, between 2016 and 2017. Vance published his memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, in 2016.
The book offered a window into the cultural crisis of white working-class America and sparked a national conversation on social mobility, addiction, and community breakdown by detailing the cultural and economic decline of the Rust Belt and Appalachia. It sold well and was adapted into a movie in 2020.
Vance was a CNN contributor in 2017 and 2018. Not long after, he served on the board of advisors of American Moment, a networking and training organization for young conservatives from 2020 to 2023. In 2019, Vance and Chris Buskirk co-founded the conservative Rockbridge Network. That same year, Vance co-founded venture capital firm Narya Capital in Ohio with financial help from Thiel and others. Further, with the help of Thiel and former Trump adviser Darren Blanton, Vance has invested in Rumble.
The Senator and VP Hopeful
Vance’s political beliefs are best described as national conservatism, a form of right-wing populism that exists as an ideological successor to the paleoconservative movement popularized by figures like Pat Buchanan.
In 2022, Vance won the US Senate election in Ohio after defeating Democrat Tim Ryan. He assumed office in January of 2023. While he initially opposed Trump, Vance has become a strong Trump supporter. He holds a strong conservative voting record, according to the Heritage Foundation. In July 2024, Trump picked Vance as his running mate.
Debate Me, Bro
Vance has a habit of confronting the corporate media head-on. For example, he called out CNN for preferential treatment straight to Dana Bash’s face live.
He showcased this trait again during his CBS debate with Democratic Party VP candidate, Governor Tim Walz, last Wednesday. The moderator fact-checked Vance and was quickly picked apart by Vance. They eventually cut Vance’s microphone.
Vance and Walz debated topics ranging from immigration to the economy, abortion, the Middle East, mass shootings, and more.
Post-debate polling showed that more people believed that Vance had won the debate. CNN polling showed that “51% of viewers said that Vance did the better job, with 49% picking Walz”. The debate was parodied by SNL, mocking Kamala for picking a tepid campaign partner.
It’s Crunch Time
The attacks against MAGA have become deranged. Trump has survived two failed assassination attempts and is the continued victim of lawfare. Most recently, Ohio judges refused to file arrest warrants for Trump and Vance after they spread claims about Haitian migrants eating pets in Springfield, Ohio. Nonprofit Haitian Bridge Alliance (HBA) filed a criminal complaint against the pair, but the Clark County Municipal Court found no probable cause. With less than 30 days left until the election, the MAGA movement mustn’t lose focus. These attacks will only get stupider. Only by voting for Trump and JD Vance can America keep the country out of the clutches of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, the quasi-communists of the Democratic Party.
Check out America Mission™’s timeline on JD Vance’s past.
Thanks for reading America Mission™!
Stay tuned for next time’s edition of Faces of Intrepidity!
My name is Mike Melo and I made America my mission. We sincerely hope you join us — the many who’ve decided that America is their mission, too. If you enjoyed this week’s Faces of Intrepidity, please follow America Mission™ and Mike Melo on X. See you next time!
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