The Enigma of JD Vance

[mystery-ak]

The Enigma of JD Vance

Alan Joseph Bauer | Apr 19, 2026


The sitting vice president is hard to figure out.

Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) said the other day that nearly 80 million people specifically voted for Donald Trump, and thus it was incumbent on Republicans to pass the SAVE America Act and other legislation that the president supports. Tuberville was right about Trump: many, if not most, of those who voted in 2024 for Donald Trump did so because of the man. Whereas some people vote based on party, independent of the candidate, Donald Trump is the main draw for many voters. Whether it be his colorful ways, supportive family, fighting style, blunt presentation, reliability with friends and allies, little dance, or other features, there is simply nobody like Donald Trump. The stock market is reaching highs, the Iranians are assessing massive damage, tariff revenue is enormous, the armed services reached their recruiting goals five months early, etc. The U.S. and the world are different and, for many, better due to the actions of Donald Trump.

So what happens after Trump? The basic thinking is that JD Vance is the heir apparent of MAGA and the obvious choice to run in 2028. Some people whisper that Vance will take the family over country route and not actually run. There are other Republicans who might have an eye on the prize, though Marco Rubio has consistently said that he will not run if Vance chooses to do so. So what about JD Vance? Nobody can be a Trump II. Fine. But is JD Vance a good fit for the tens of millions who supported Donald Trump, the man and his policies?

Before the vice president left for Pakistan recently in order to talk to the Iranians, he gave a quick interview on the tarmac in Hungary. There had been an open point on Lebanon and the ceasefire. Iran claimed that the two were intertwined as the Iranians are desperate to save their decades-long, hundreds of billions of dollars investment in the Shiite terror group, Hezbollah. The U.S. said that Israel stopping its military campaign in southern Lebanon was never included in the 15-point ceasefire document. What struck me was a comment that Vance made on the subject. In the interview, he said that the issue of a Lebanese ceasefire was one of misunderstanding, but he went on to say that the negotiations should not fall over Lebanon, “which has nothing to do with them [the Iranians].” My “uh-oh” sensor went off. Now I appreciate that it is hard to give a cogent interview while halfway on one’s way home, but the question is whether JD Vance really meant what he said. Lebanon is everything to Iran. I recently saw an interview with Ayatollah Khomeini on an Air France flight back to Iran. He was asked what he felt returning to his homeland. His answer: “Nothing.” His only goal was to spread Shia Islamic teachings and terror, and if Tehran was a good place to set up his office, so be it. Lebanon has been the graveyard of dozens of IRGC generals and officials. Not surprisingly, when the beepers exploded, the Iranian ambassador to Lebanon was seriously injured. Why would he have a beeper meant for Hezbollah operatives?

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https://townhall.com/columnists/alanjosephbauer/2026/04/19/the-enigma-of-jd-vance-n2674645

[Smokin Joe]

I think Vance would be a good fit in the Oval Office. Less chaotic than Trump, but effective.

[Cyber Liberty]

I read JD's book, Hillbilly Elegy, and he's not enigmatic at all.  His public statements align with the lessons he learned growing up.  No, there's no discussion of foreign policy in the book, but that's because he was running for the Senate...you do get a feel for his personal philosophy when dealing with people. 

He was the right guy to send to Pakistan to talk to the Iranians.  He didn't give an inch, and had no problem leaving without accepting a bad deal for the US.  Refreshing for a politician!

[jafo2010]

I like JD Vance.  He has proven to be a good Vice President.  However, I am not focused on perpetruating MAGA as my prime consideration, I am focused on selecting what I believe to be  the best candidate.  And in my eyes, Florida Gov Ron DeSantis has proven his leadership ability in the executive seat in the state of Florida.

And I am not a fan of Secretary of State Marco Rubio.  He has done well as Sec of State, but I think he is weak on a number of key issues.

For me, everything linked to immigration is key for me.  We should deport ALL Biden illegal aliens admitted, no exception, no court/judge, just immediate deportation.  Either we have legal admission into this nation, or we don't.  The stinking Democommies have proven they care nothing for the rule of law.  The leaders of the Democommie Party have gone full blown communist, and we need leaders in the Republican Party who are not afraid to stand up against these traitors. 

But if JD Vance decides to run and wins the Republican primary, he will have my full support. 

In any case, the strength on the Republican bench is light years stronger than the lunatics that comprise the Democommies.  Seriously, Kamala Harris running around claiming she might run, how sad for that party.  She should be the leader of the Dems, and she is utterly clueless.  And Gov Gavin Newsom believes he will be favored, and after the fine job he did in California, he should be lucky to be considered dogcatcher where he lives.

I think the Dems will be faced with picking a relative no name, like Gov Brashear.  Gov Josh Shapiro has hopes of becoming the nominee in the Dems, but there is no way the USA selects a Jew to represent the political party that has become solidly anti-semitic.  No way!!!  That means Rahm Emanuel is out too.  And despite his heavy presence in the news media, James Carvill is also out from an advisory perspective.  His ideas are too extreme, and independents will be driven away from ideas he is espousing currently. 

Watch the money interests and who they embrace on the Dems side.  Whoever gets Trump's endorsement on the Republican side would be the odds on favorite IMHO.

[rustynail]

'The Enigma of JD Vance',  a few rounds of antibiotics should clear that right up.

[Wingnut]

The sitting vice president is hard to figure out.

Not really.  If you have a brain. 

[libertybele]

I like JD Vance.  He has proven to be a good Vice President.  However, I am not focused on perpetruating MAGA as my prime consideration, I am focused on selecting what I believe to be  the best candidate.  And in my eyes, Florida Gov Ron DeSantis has proven his leadership ability in the executive seat in the state of Florida.

And I am not a fan of Secretary of State Marco Rubio.  He has done well as Sec of State, but I think he is weak on a number of key issues.

For me, everything linked to immigration is key for me.  We should deport ALL Biden illegal aliens admitted, no exception, no court/judge, just immediate deportation.  Either we have legal admission into this nation, or we don't.  The stinking Democommies have proven they care nothing for the rule of law.  The leaders of the Democommie Party have gone full blown communist, and we need leaders in the Republican Party who are not afraid to stand up against these traitors. 

But if JD Vance decides to run and wins the Republican primary, he will have my full support. 

In any case, the strength on the Republican bench is light years stronger than the lunatics that comprise the Democommies.  Seriously, Kamala Harris running around claiming she might run, how sad for that party.  She should be the leader of the Dems, and she is utterly clueless.  And Gov Gavin Newsom believes he will be favored, and after the fine job he did in California, he should be lucky to be considered dogcatcher where he lives.

I think the Dems will be faced with picking a relative no name, like Gov Brashear.  Gov Josh Shapiro has hopes of becoming the nominee in the Dems, but there is no way the USA selects a Jew to represent the political party that has become solidly anti-semitic.  No way!!!  That means Rahm Emanuel is out too.  And despite his heavy presence in the news media, James Carvill is also out from an advisory perspective.  His ideas are too extreme, and independents will be driven away from ideas he is espousing currently. 

Watch the money interests and who they embrace on the Dems side.  Whoever gets Trump's endorsement on the Republican side would be the odds on favorite IMHO.

Technically, though he ran before, Rubio is not eligible to become president due to neither of his parents were American citizens before he was born; so that eliminates him.

I like Vance.  I think he has a good ability to connect with people and is pretty much a 'straight shooter' from what I can tell.  I'm just not so sure about his foreign policy experience is adequate. I also like DeSantis, though personality wise, I think JD has the upper hand.  His leadership skills are excellent and so on that issue, he wins over JD. Again on foreign policy -- both are weak.

Who can bring in the votes to get seated in the WH?  Depending on how the remainder of Trump/Vance's term goes, I'd say Vance.  I'm just not sure if DeSantis' personality will bring in the votes.