Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) shrugged off criticism from both parties about being an unsuitable choice for former President Trump’s running mate, calling the negative feedback “a badge of honor” during an interview on Sunday.
Appearing on Fox News’s “Sunday Morning Futures,” host Maria Bartiromo questioned Vance about the critiques from Democrats and Republicans alike, asking, “Some people are saying you were the wrong pick for Trump’s running mate. What are you doing about it?”
The U.S. Senator, JD Vance labeled the negative feedback “a badge of honor.”
Vance responded with a quiet chuckle and stated, “I understand that there are many people, both within the GOP establishment and certainly on the far left, who dislike Trump’s decision to choose me.”
He embraced the criticism, saying, “I actually see their disapproval as a badge of honor. It’s no surprise that the media attacks those they fear the most—those who are best positioned to expand President Trump’s message to a wider audience.”
Drawing on his background, which inspired his bestselling memoir “Hillbilly Elegy,” Vance dismissed the concerns of the GOP establishment, suggesting that everyday Americans would resonate with his story.
“I’m not an insider, Maria. I grew up poor, without a political or wealthy background. I worked my way through college, served in the Marine Corps, and now, I’m Trump’s running mate,” Vance said.
He added, “I believe many ordinary Americans can relate to my journey. It doesn’t surprise me that the Washington insiders don’t like me—because it’s their policies that have failed. Naturally, they oppose us because we’re aiming to fix what they’ve broken.”
