JD Vance (left) and Mike Johnson (right). Credit: Getty Images
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not represent Newsner.
JD Vance has certainly made a name for himself quickly in Washington, first as a senator and now as Vice President.
Vance was sworn in as Ohio’s senator in 2023, but he left that position to work in the White House alongside Donald Trump.
While the president is known for speaking his mind, JD Vance appears to have taken that a step further. Regardless of whether one agrees with his views, Vance has proven to be unique—though not always in a positive way. It seems he’s unfamiliar with the concept of timing.
Vance has lived an eventful life. After serving in the U.S. military and studying at Harvard, he gained national attention with his 2016 book Hillbilly Elegy, which was adapted into a film directed by Hollywood icon Ron Howard.
Vance’s ideas for how America should change were clear, and after some shifting of loyalties, he aligned himself with Donald Trump to help bring about those changes. He was elected to the Senate in 2022, and just two years later, he was ready for a role at the White House.
Now Trump’s running mate, Vance’s work revolves around the Oval Office. However, while the Vice President’s duties are usually clear, Vance seems intent on carrying out his role differently from previous officeholders. Has he forgotten the hierarchy of the White House, or is he simply an impulsive individual who doesn’t care?
There’s no question that JD Vance is a driven politician who knows what he wants. He’s not someone who’s unfamiliar with taking charge or stirring up conflict. However, the events that unfolded at the White House last week—when Vance unexpectedly lashed out at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, engaging in behavior that some might describe as bullying—raise important questions.
JD Vance “Not Afraid to Speak His Mind”
In case you’re not up to date, Vance, who wasn’t even a senator when Russia invaded Ukraine, demanded that Zelenskyy pursue a diplomatic route for peace.
“I’m talking about the kind of diplomacy that’s going to end the destruction of your country,” Vance told Zelenskyy. “Mr. President, with all due respect, I think it’s disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media.”
In my opinion, the real disrespect came from Vance, who clearly still doesn’t fully understand the weight of his title. He denied Zelenskyy the warm welcome he deserved, demanding that the Ukrainian leader be “thankful.” But honestly, Zelenskyy has expressed his gratitude to the American people before—should he now be expected to fall to his knees and deliver a poem of thanks to the president and vice president? It’s time to grow up.
While Vance’s outspokenness isn’t inherently bad, as a politician—and especially as Vice President—he must recognize that words have consequences and can cause chaos. Quite frankly, it’s a wonder he didn’t escalate the situation further in his apparent rush to appear tough.
Vance’s approach as Vice President is unlike anything we’ve seen before, suggesting that perhaps his role—and his responsibilities—have been redefined. However, one must question whether he is truly fit for such a position of power. Donald Trump has never been afraid to speak his mind, but maybe JD Vance should focus more on supporting the president in his duties rather than using the Oval Office to further his own agenda.
Hot Mic Catches JD Vance in Congress
And it doesn’t stop there. Ahead of Donald Trump’s speech to Congress on Tuesday, Vance was seen chatting with Speaker Mike Johnson. They discussed Trump’s upcoming speech—until a hot mic caught their conversation.
“By the way, I think the speech is going to be great, but I don’t know how you do this for 90 minutes,” Vance told Johnson.
“The hardest thing was doing it during Biden when the speech was a stupid campaign speech,” Johnson responded.
Johnson noticed the microphone and gently moved it out of the way so they could continue speaking privately. Vance whispered something to him, but what’s telling is that the Vice President either didn’t care about the microphone or didn’t notice it at all. This lack of awareness raises important questions about his professional demeanor.
Body language expert Inbaal Honigman suggested that Vance may have been confused about the significance of the microphone, or he may not understand why Johnson was trying to have a private conversation in a room filled with recording equipment.
A Vice President seemingly unaware of the importance of a microphone is concerning, and it could suggest a lack of attention to detail or, worse, a disregard for protocol. If he intends to help lead the country alongside Donald Trump, it’s about time he took his role seriously.