Some House Republicans slam Vance as Trump’s VP pick: ‘The worst choice’
A number of House Republicans are privately bashing former President Trump’s selection of Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) as his running mate, warning that the pick will not help — and could hurt — the party’s chances of winning in November.
The Republicans, speaking to The Hill on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive topic, raised concerns about Vance’s foreign policy positions, lack of experience and inability to expand the Republican coalition beyond Trump’s base.
There are, to be sure, plenty of Vance supporters in the House GOP conference, particularly hard-line conservatives — including those in the House Freedom Caucus — who favor the populist, America First perspective that the vice presidential nominee espouses. And the Trump campaign is vigorously defending the pick.
But Republicans who spoke to The Hill — including veteran lawmakers, moderates and Reagan-styled conservatives who support a muscular foreign policy — said a much larger number of their colleagues harbor doubts about Vance.
“He was the worst choice of all the options. It was so bad I didn’t even think it was possible,” one House Republican said. “Anti-Ukraine, more of a populist. He adds nothing to the Trump ticket. He energizes the same people that love Trump.”
“I think if you were to ask many people around this building, 9 out of 10 on our side would say he’s the wrong pick,” a second House Republican said. “He’s the only person who can do serious damage.”
A third House Republican — who said “there is major dissension” to Vance in the conference — argued that if Trump falls short to Vice President Harris in November, Trump’s vice presidential selection will be to blame.
