JD Vance
Vice President
About
J.D. Vance is the 50th Vice President of the United States and former U.S. Senator from Ohio (2023-2025). He is the author of Hillbilly Elegy (2016), a memoir about growing up in Appalachian Ohio that became a bestseller and major film. After Yale Law School, he worked in venture capital backed by Peter Thiel. He ran for Senate as a Trump critic in 2021, then reversed course and became one of Trump's most loyal allies, a transformation that drew significant criticism. Confirmed by his own Senate vote as Vice President after Trump's 2024 win, he cast the tie-breaking vote to confirm Pete Hegseth as Defense Secretary. His tech-world background and Peter Thiel ties have made him a central figure in Silicon Valley's shift toward Republican politics.
Donations & financial influence
| Category | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Total raised (career) | $35M (2022 Senate) | |
| Corporate total | $167K career | |
| AIPAC / pro-Israel | $268,355 | |
| Oil & gas / fossil | N/A | |
| Pharma / healthcare | N/A | |
| Defense | N/A | |
| Wall Street / finance | N/A | |
| Big Tech | N/A |
Controversies & conflicts of interest
- Peter Thiel gave $15M to his Senate campaign, tech billionaire influence
- Flip-flopped from 'Never Trumper' to devoted supporter
- Opposed Ukraine aid while receiving isolationist donor money
- Compared to historical authoritarian figures by critics
- Hillbilly Elegy critics say he exploited his community for personal gain