For a new vice president, JD Vance is sure making a lot of news. But he’s getting media coverage that some leaders wouldn’t be thrilled about.
It’s no surprise that he’s constantly in the news. What is surprising is that internet memes have now become another source of Vance content, with his face used for almost every funny thought that crosses the minds of Americans.
Some of the memes in question are endearing, picturing him as the “Captain America” of politics. Others depict him as a warped creation in some childhood film, mocking his looks and character.
Some political leaders might feel degraded by such humor, but not Vance. He doesn’t lecture or lash out at those who poke fun—he often joins in the laughter. He doesn’t take himself too seriously, and that is part of what makes him the viral sensation he is.
For a young voter and college student like me, within every meme that we see and laugh at, we may see a bit of ourselves. That is, Vance has become a source of relatable identity for the American people. Born in Middletown, Ohio, he grew up in a broken home.
In his book, “Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis,” he stated that he had “in some metrics, a dozen step-siblings.” His parents divorced. His dad abandoned him at the early age of 6. And his mother remarried and became hooked on prescription medications.
All told, Vance’s story is one of someone who came from nothing but made something out of himself.
When he was only 12 years old, his mother threatened to kill herself and him. After this harrowing incident, he moved in with his grandmother. He eventually enlisted in the military, went to college, and then attended Yale Law School.
While at law school, he met his wife. After law school, he dabbled in venture capitalism, created his own business, and started a family.
Many younger Americans know what it’s like to have a loved one struggle with drug addiction or to be shuffled from one family member to another or to struggle to make ends meet. In some parts of Vance’s story, many of us see our own lives. We see the struggle to make something of ourselves when nothing was given to us on a silver platter.
As someone who has lived in Ohio for the last three years, I am not surprised that our new vice president is stealing the hearts of the American people. He has long had the respect of people from both sides of the aisle. He did not demand admiration but was given it by those who have worked with him.
As a young “Gen Z” voter, I was hesitant when Donald Trump picked him as a running mate. I didn’t believe that the American people would see him as someone they could relate to. A young white male doesn’t typically win over certain American voters.
But Vance proved me wrong. With his humble beginnings, his relatable story, and his character, intellect, and perseverance, he has strengthened the unity of the American people. and he has given them a reignited dream: A lively hope that those with nothing can become something.
He’s brought back American values to the second highest position in our nation. He’s a married man with three young children, a dedicated person of faith who prays before bed. He embodies the American dream and personifies the character of our Founding Fathers.
He’s one of the most eloquent defenders of America-First policies since Ronald Reagan—but he doesn’t throw insults or run smear campaigns like other leaders of our day. Instead, he speaks with logic and facts, expressing on a public stage what Americans have been thinking for the last 10 years.
He does not lose his cool in the face of contempt, nor does he back down in front of foreign entities—whether they be Ukraine, our European allies, or others.
In short, social media is littered with references to Vance, but it is often because of the place he holds in the hearts of the American people.
Vance lives his life in a way that few men in Washington do: with character, conviction, and transparency. When looking forward, especially for a young person like me, the future of our great nation seems like it could be very bright in his hands. Because of his vision for our country and the innovation that he brings to politics, I believe this could very well be our next president of the United States.
