CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Claims are circulating that 39-year-old JD Vance made a lot of controversial comments about former President Trump before he was elected as an Ohio Senator.
Now, as Trump's pick for running mate, WCNC Charlotte's VERIFY team looks into these claims about Vance.
THE QUESTION:
Has Vance come out against Trump in the past?
THE ANSWER:
Yes, JD Vance has made some critical comments about former President Trump. However, he has since apologized and regrets what he said before.
OUR SOURCE:
Several posts on social media claim Vance has criticized Donald Trump for years - many pointing to social media posts that have since been deleted from Vance’s X page.
In a 2016 interview with Charlie Rose, while promoting his book, "Hillbilly Elegy," Vance stated he was not a "Trump guy."
"I’m a never-Trump guy," Vance said. "I never liked him."
However, Vance changed his tune when he was running for the Senate.
In 2021 after Trump endorsed Vance, he went on Fox News and said he did say critical things about Trump that he now regrets.
"I’ve been very open about the fact that I did say those critical things and I regret them, and I regret being wrong about the guy. I think that he was a good president I think he made a lot of good decisions for people," Vance told Fox News.
In June, after Vance learned he was on Trump’s shortlist for vice president, Vance told Fox News again that he was wrong about Trump, and that he was a great president.
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VERIFY is dedicated to helping the public distinguish between true and false information. The VERIFY team, with help from questions submitted by the audience, tracks the spread of stories or claims that need clarification or correction. Have something you want VERIFIED? Text us at 704-329-3600 or visit VERIFY.
Contact Meghan Bragg at mbragg@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
WCNC Charlotte's Verify series is all about trying to make a difference in the Carolinas by making sure the community has the correct information. WCNC Charlotte outlines concisely what we know and what we don't know. Sometimes the answer can be surprising. Watch previous stories where we verify social media claims in the YouTube playlist below and subscribe to get updated when new videos are uploaded.