Trump & Vance: What to Expect from Political Narcissism?

The roots of their political culture might be an answer

Anton Krutikov
Policy Panorama
Published in
8 min readAug 2, 2024

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President Donald J. Trump and Senator J.D. Vance. Source of image: Getty Images

There was one question over Donald Trump’s presidential campaign for months: Who will the Republican pick as his running mate as he pursues a second term in the White House?

In July, his choice was revealed: J.D. Vance, an author, venture capitalist and pugnacious first-term senator from Ohio.

Experts say the decision marks a shift in strategy for Trump. While Trump’s previous running mate, Mike Pence, was seen as a moderating influence in his campaign, his new choice signals an embrace of hard-right “Make America Great Again” politics — and a break with the old-school Republican establishment.

Source of image: Getty Images

But will this decision bring success to Trump and his campaign? Will the political turn to the right pay off? And what can the 39-year-old Senator J.D. Vance offer his team?

One of the main themes of Trump’s campaign speeches was peacemaking. The Republican candidate generously promised to quickly end military conflicts around the world, including in Gaza/Palestine and Ukraine. To prevent possible…

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Anton Krutikov
Policy Panorama

Independent historian and political analyst, London, UK.