J.D. Vance’s name explained: Why Trump’s VP pick has used multiple monikers over the years
Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance was named Donald Trump’s running mate on Monday, a victory for his MAGA base.
Vance came to national prominence when he published his bestselling book “Hillbilly Elegy” in 2016, the year Trump was elected president.
In the book, which was later adapted for Netflix by Ron Howard, Vance answers one of the questions many asked after his nomination: What does “JD” stand for?
There are actually several possible answers, as the initials stood for several nicknames throughout the senator’s life.
In his memoir, Vance says he was originally named James Donald Bowman by his father, Donald Bowman.
Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance was named Donald Trump’s running mate on Monday, a victory for his MAGA base
Vance came to national prominence when he published his bestselling book, Hillbilly Elegy, in 2016, the year Trump was elected president.
Bowman divorced Vance’s mother Bev and gave him up for adoption at age six.
Vance’s mother eventually remarried Bob Hamel, with the boy adopted and renamed James David Hamel.
Bev slightly changed her son’s middle name from his father Donald to his uncle David, so he could now be called JD.
“This seemed a bit far-fetched to me even at the age of six,” Vance wrote. “Any old D name would have been fine, as long as it wasn’t Donald.”
JD Vance officially adopted his last name after Bev and Hamel split and he decided to use his grandfather’s and grandmother’s last names.
He, his wife, and fellow law student Usha Chilukuri both officially changed their surnames to Vance when they married.
Trump forgot Vance’s name at a rally supporting his 2022 Senate bid in Ohio.
The GOP candidate made his vice presidential announcement public on Truth Social, but dropped it just as delegates were approving his presidential nomination at their party convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
In his memoir, Vance recounts being originally named James Donald Bowman by his father, Donald Bowman
He and his wife and fellow law student Usha Chilukuri both officially changed their surnames to Vance when they married
“As Vice President, JD will continue to fight for our Constitution, support our troops, and do everything he can to help me MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN,” he wrote in a statement, citing his career as a Marine, best-selling author and in business.
Two hours later, Vance arrived on the convention floor, where he was welcomed as a hero at the official vote on the nomination.
Biden’s campaign immediately went on the attack, criticizing Vance’s hardline policies on abortion and saying he would do the bidding of billionaires and corporations.
Vance came to national prominence when he published his bestselling book “Hillbilly Elegy” in 2016, the year Trump was elected president.
He has been a senator for less than two years, but has emerged as one of the fiercest defenders of Trump’s “Make America Great Again” agenda, particularly when it comes to foreign policy, trade and immigration.
The former venture capitalist and US Marine was initially critical of Trump.
He did not vote for Trump in 2016, tweeting around the time, “My god, what an idiot.”
But insiders say he became increasingly politicized as he watched the country’s elite institutions turn against Trump’s presidency even as he delivered on his promises.
Since then, he has built a personal bond with the former president and his son Donald Trump Jr.