Backed by Billionaires: Is JD Vance the Future of Trumpism?

Inderjeet Parmar

A professor of international politics and associate dean of research in the School of Policy and Global Affairs at City, University of London, a fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences, and a columnist at The Wire. He is an International Fellow at the ROADS Initiative think tank, Islamabad,and author of several books including Foundations of the American Century. He is currently writing a book on the history, politics, and powers of the US Foreign Policy Establishment.

Atul Bhardwaj

Fellow at the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library working on “Eurasian Connectivity and its Impact on Maritime and World Order”. He is the author of India-America Relations 1942-62- Rooted in the Liberal International Order (Routledge, London 2019). He has been writing a Strategic Affairs Column in the Economic and Political Weekly since 2013. He has several publications in national and international journals. He has been a Research Fellow at the Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses, Delhi and also Senior Fellow, Indian Council of Social Science Research. He is currently an Adjunct Fellow at the Institute of Chinese Studies, Delhi. He has a doctorate in History from Ambedkar University, Delhi and a masters in War Studies from King’s College London. He holds a BSc degree from National Defence Academy, Pune. He served in the Indian Navy in the aviation branch for two decades.

As the 2024 United States presidential race unfolds, an unprecedented scenario has emerged. At 78 years, old, Donald Trump has become the oldest major-party presidential nominee in history, following President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the race. This development has significant implications for Trump’s pick for vice president, JD Vance and, potentially, the future of the Republican Party, US politics, and the superpower’s global attitude.

Trump’s advanced age and ongoing legal challenges introduce an element of uncertainty to his potential presidency. There’s a non-trivial possibility that, if elected, Trump might need to be replaced during his term due to health concerns or legal complications. Furthermore, regardless of the 2024 outcome, Trump will be ineligible for the 2028 election due to term limits.

These factors considerably elevate JD Vance’s prospects within the Republican Party. As a rising star and Trump’s running mate, Vance is well-positioned to potentially step into a leadership role, either midway through a Trump presidency (should the need arise) or as a presidential candidate in 2028. His journey from critic to supporter of Trump’s policies has aligned him closely with the current direction of the GOP, making him a plausible successor to Trump’s political legacy. Indeed, Trump appears to have picked a VP running partner who more or less is identical in outlook to the former president himself, as if here were anointing his own successor to cement his legacy?

Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies