Can JD Vance Save His Political Future by Turning on Trump?
As Trump's VP, Vance has suffered a series of humiliating losses. To salvage his political career, he may need to distance himself from his scandal-plagued boss.
JD Vance, the would-be president, has a knack for getting into battles he can't win. In the past week alone, he's taken on Iranian negotiators, Hungarian voters, and even Pope Leo - all on behalf of his scandal-ridden boss, Donald Trump. The vice-president is paying a steep price for his sycophantic loyalty, with his poll numbers plummeting and his hopes of inheriting the MAGA mantle fading.
Vance's woes are compounded by growing doubts about Trump's mental health and fitness to govern. Yet despite these mounting challenges, Vance remains the White House's next-in-line. To salvage his political future, he may need to do the unthinkable: turn on his scandal-plagued boss.
Vance's recent losses have been nothing short of humiliating. His attempts to mediate with Iranian negotiators on Trump's behalf resulted in censure and mockery. His support for Hungarian strongman Viktor Orbán also backfired, with voters rejecting Vance's chosen candidate. Even Vance's feud with Pope Leo over the White House's stance on international peace efforts ended in humiliation and ridicule.
These defeats have taken a toll on Vance's political standing. His poll ratings are plummeting, and his hopes of inheriting the MAGA mantle from Trump are increasingly uncertain. Vance's own inflammatory statements and poor judgment have also exacerbated the situation, making him a liability by association with the embattled president.
As Trump's mental health and fitness to govern continue to be called into question, Vance's position as the White House's next-in-line becomes increasingly precarious. To salvage his political future, Vance may need to make the difficult decision to distance himself from Trump and chart his own course, even if it means abandoning his former allegiance.
The path forward is not an easy one, but Vance's survival as a political force may depend on his willingness to break free from Trump's shadow and forge his own identity. By doing so, he may yet have a chance to save his political skin and perhaps even revive his Maga succession hopes. But the time to act is now, as the clock continues to tick on Trump's tumultuous presidency.
Source: The Guardian
