JD Vance, the Republican vice presidential candidate, may be relatively new to politics, but his public profile has garnered renewed scrutiny over past remarks.
On Friday, The New York Times published a report featuring texts from a former Vance classmate, shedding light on his past criticisms of police, Donald Trump, and other topics. These messages, spanning from 2014 to 2017, reveal Vance’s outspoken opposition to Trump, who is now his running mate. The texts were shared by Sofia Nelson, a transgender public defender from Detroit, who was once close to Vance but fell out with him in 2021 over his views on gender-affirming care for minors.
Despite their past closeness—evidenced by an email exchange where Vance apologized for referring to Nelson as a “lesbian” in his book, Hillbilly Elegy—their relationship soured. Nelson had initially responded to Vance’s apology warmly and requested a signed copy of his book.
In one text, Vance expressed strong disdain for the police, following the killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. “I hate the police. Given the number of negative experiences I’ve had in the past few years, I can’t imagine what a black guy goes through,” he wrote.
In a 2015 email, Vance labeled Trump as a “demagogue,” criticizing his appeal to those with extremist beliefs. He further criticized Trump, calling him a “morally reprehensible human being” and indicating he could never support him.
Vance’s spokesperson responded to the resurfaced messages, stating that Vance values his friendships across political divides and that his views have evolved over time, particularly after becoming a father. The spokesperson emphasized that Vance has openly explained his change in perspective on Trump and wished Nelson well despite their differences.
Trump’s choice of Vance for his ticket has sparked some discontent on the right, with conservative commentators like Ben Shapiro and Tomi Lahren expressing skepticism. Shapiro even suggested that if given the chance to reconsider, Trump might have chosen differently. “So, J.D. Vance is the vice presidential nominee for President Trump now. If you had a time machine, if you go back two weeks, would you have picked J.D. Vance again? I doubt it,” Shapiro remarked.
