When Senator J.D. Vance steps onto the stage at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on Wednesday, he will be seen by many loyal Republicans as the fresh torchbearer of Donald Trump's Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement. Trump's selection of the 39-year-old Vance, known for his fiery populism, as his vice-presidential candidate indicates that the 78-year-old former president believes his MAGA movement can outlive his own tenure. If Trump secures victory in the November 5 presidential election, he can only serve until 2029. Vance's mission on Wednesday and in the coming months will be to convince skeptics of his MAGA credentials and to attract voters who are wary of Trump, despite having once likened Trump to Adolf Hitler before becoming a staunch defender.
Erick Erickson, a well-known conservative commentator, believes that Vance, who gained national prominence after publishing the bestselling memoir 'Hillbilly Elegy', can navigate this delicate balance. 'J.D. Vance can articulate Trump's message to those who don't fully grasp it,' Erickson explained in an interview with Reuters. 'He can clarify his agenda.' This MAGA agenda primarily revolves around a broad economic populism that emphasizes the middle class, advocates for increased government intervention in the economy, and seeks to minimize foreign alliances and entanglements. The MAGA movement itself serves both as a media branding strategy and a catch-all term to encapsulate Trump's most ardent supporters, including those with deep-rooted racial grievances and many who follow his policy directives regardless of their ideological stance.
'In Trump's approach, it's driven by instincts and impulses, some stemming from racial resentment,' noted Damon Linker, a political science lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania. 'But in Vance's interpretation, it's intended to be broader than that. Or at least he aspires for it to be.' As a Yale Law School graduate and former venture capitalist, Vance is now well-placed to refine Trump's often fragmented vision into a cohesive strategy for the future. While Trump frequently relies on straightforward yet memorable slogans, Vance is capable of exploring policy intricacies in conservative forums and during extensive media interviews.
'He indeed brings intellectual depth to what MAGA represents,' Erickson remarked. This could be pivotal because Trump's movement has never been rooted in ideology but in Trump's own instincts, according to Linker. Without a suitable successor, it might fade with him. The challenge for Trump's movement moving forward is whether someone less charismatic than the former reality TV star, Trump, can effectively communicate this message, as suggested by Suzanne Schneider, a historian specializing in conservatism at Oxford University. Critics of Trump are skeptical, arguing that his celebrity and personality have granted him a unique influence that would be challenging for any successor to emulate.
Elected to the US Senate less than two years ago, Vance has largely focused on advocating for government measures to support the working class by promoting policies that enhance wages. These policies, as outlined by Vance, include curbing illegal immigration, limiting imports, increasing the minimum wage, and cracking down on corporate excess—positions that align closely with Trump's MAGA agenda despite deviating from traditional Republican doctrine. Last year, Vance collaborated with Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren on legislation aimed at penalizing bank executives for institutional failures. Some convention attendees see Vance's nomination as evidence that the MAGA movement has matured to the point where Trump can eventually hand over the reins to others.
'I view the choice of J.D. Vance as a continuation of Donald Trump's policies, specifically the America First policies,' stated Chuck Hernandez, chair of the Chicago Republican Party. 'We're at a stage where we need to evolve and continue.' Vance is not the only one. A whole new cohort of MAGA followers could be vying for power and influence once Trump steps down. Potential contenders include tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, 38, who ran for president this year and experienced a surge in popularity among Trump's base, Arkansas Governor Sarah Sanders, 41, who served as Trump's White House press secretary, and possibly Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr., 46, who has been actively positioning himself as a behind-the-scenes powerbroker in the party and strongly supported Vance.
'There is a whole movement behind him filled with younger, smarter individuals who will be more effective in governing,' Schneider observed. Carla Sands, a former US ambassador to Denmark and a Trump fundraiser who attended the convention as a delegate from Pennsylvania, believes the MAGA movement will persist beyond Trump due to its focus on the middle class. 'The working people in our country over the past 30 years have been neglected,' Sands commented. 'I consider them the forgotten men and women. And they are no longer forgotten under this movement.'
