“What a job he did tonight,” President Donald Trump beamed at his deputy, JD Vance. The Republican convention in Dallas was meant to focus attention on the midterm elections, but turned out to be a warm-up for Vance’s presumptive coronation as the 2028 GOP presidential nominee.
The final day of the gathering was all about Vance. He told party activists at a closed-door breakfast meeting that his morning began with a 6am phone from the boss. “JD are you awake?” Trump had asked, before going on to sketch out the themes of the day to his underling.
The audio of that meeting, leaked to several US publications, showed Vance got the message. “We’ve got to nationalise this election, we’ve got to talk about all the crazy things Democrats are doing,” he said, according to Politico. The morning audience rewarded him with chants of “48, 48”. If Vance succeeds Trump he will be the 48th US president.
That night, the Vice-President was on his feet in front of a pumped-up crowd at the American Airlines Center, basking once again in cheers of “JD” and “48”. Dressed in the same blue suit and red tie as Trump, he looked slimmer, slicker and sleeker – ready and willing to inherit the Maga mantle.
The Democrats were the “party of hatred”, Vance said, warming to his theme. “They’re the party that despises America and the people who built it.” The Republicans in contrast, were the party of faith and family. “Stay the hell away from our kids,” he threatened Democrats.
