July 15, Milwaukee, WI (Reuters) – Before the 2016 presidential election, eight years prior, J.D. Vance was a scathing opponent of Donald Trump.

In public, he referred to the Republican front-runner as a “idiot” and described him as “reprehensible.” He likened him to Adolf Hitler in private.

However, by the time the former president selected Vance as his running mate on Monday, the Ohioan had grown to be one of Trump’s most devoted supporters, lending his support even when other prominent Republicans refused.

James David Vance – J.D. Vance is a rather unique character in Trump’s inner circle.

James David Vance is a rather unique character in Trump’s inner circle because of his metamorphosis from self-described “never Trumper” to ardent devotee.

Democrats and even some Republicans have questioned whether Vance, an Ohio senator who published the best-selling novel “Hillbilly Elegy,” is more motivated by expediency than by ideology.

However, many of Trump’s advisors believe his metamorphosis is real, even though he narrowly avoided being killed on Saturday during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.

They note that J.D Vance political views, which combine economic populism and isolationism, align with those of Trump and place him in opposition to the traditional Republican

leadership, which is still dominated by proponents of free markets and tough foreign policy.
Vance has referred to Republican Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming as a mentor.

Barrasso told Reuters that Vance changed his opinion of Trump after “seeing the successes that President Trump as president brought to the country.”