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3 Controversial Statements by JD Vance and Why They Matter

Since joining national politics, JD Vance has become a consistent topic of controversial conversation. Once known as the author of the best-selling book Hillbilly Elegy, Vance has reinvented himself as a conservative voice aligned with Donald Trump, and has now risen in the ranks to become the Vice President of the United States. On his climb to the White House, he has made several questionable statements that have sparked much backlash, and furthermore raised deep questions about his ideologies, priorities, and strategies. Some view his statements as just bold truth telling, while others see them as aggressive and intentionally inflammatory, and maybe even dangerous. What is for sure is that JD Vance continues to ruffle the feathers of America and doesn’t seem to be letting off the gas of his controversial stances. Here are some of JD Vance’s most provocative comments and their effect on US politics and policy.

Calling Donald Trump “America’s Hitler”

One of the most widely covered statements made by JD Vance during his political journey was his statement about Donald Trump and comparing him to Hitler. This is such a controversial statement for him because it is a drastic contrast from his current alignment with Trump as his Vice President and one of his biggest supporters. His dramatic shift from being a harsh critic of Trump to ultimately becoming his running mate has been one of the most discussed and debated topics of Vance’s political career. Originally, Vance expressed concern about Trump’s ascent to power and viewed him as an authoritative threat, drawing comparisons to one of the most notoriously violent dictators in world history.

Later, Vance walked back these opinions on Trump, stating that he was merely emotional and naive back in 2016 when the remarks were originally made, according to online sources. He claimed that his views had changed and that he was able to see Trump’s leadership style and presidency through a different lens. Many critics called Vance an opportunist, accusing him of switching sides to gain political advantages for his own career. Sources say that he has even claimed that Trump is a mentor of his now, which could be seen as an example of what is being called political flexibility, a more easygoing stance on politics that is often criticized.