Image Source: Getty Images | Photo By Jeff Swensen
J.D. Vance, once a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential election, has undergone a significant political transformation and is now a staunch supporter. This shift in Vance’s stance has recently been highlighted by a 22-second audio remix of his previous ‘Never Trump’ remarks, which has become a viral sensation on TikTok.
The remix, created by DJ duo Carl Dixon and Steve Terrell, has captured widespread attention across various social media platforms, including Instagram Reels and YouTube. In discussing the viral audio, Terrell shared that he and Dixon were intrigued by the melodic quality of Vance’s voice in the original clip, which inspired their remix. “We were like, what if we put this to a catchy beat or something?” Terrell explained, as reported by The Independent.
He further noted, “When Kamala decided to start running, me and Steve were figuring out ways to encourage people to vote or be aware of what’s going on. This is our first time doing something as politically charged.” The remix features Vance’s comments from a 2016 interview with Charlie Rose, where he was promoting his memoir, Hillbilly Elegy.
During the interview, Vance declared, “I am a ‘Never Trump’ guy. I never liked him.” He elaborated, “As somebody who doesn’t like Trump, myself, I sort of—I understand where Trump’s voters come from. But I also don’t like Trump himself, and that made me realize that maybe I am not quite part of either world totally,” as reported by Politico. Vance had even speculated whether Trump might be America’s version of Hitler, describing him as a “moral disaster,” according to CNN.
Vance’s critical stance on Trump was evident in his writings as well. He wrote, “I go back and forth between thinking Trump is a cynical a**hole like Nixon who wouldn’t be that bad (and might even prove useful) or that he is America’s Hitler. How’s that for discouraging?” At that time, Vance also claimed he would never vote for Trump. However, by 2020, his perspective had shifted. Vance began endorsing Trump and revealed to podcaster Megyn Kelly that he had voted for him. He attributed his change in opinion to Trump’s successes in office.
Vance has since expressed regret for his past criticisms, stating, “I did say those critical things and I regret them, and I regret being wrong about the guy.” He further asserted, “I am proud to be one of his strongest supporters in the Senate today and I am going to do everything in my power to ensure President Trump wins in November…the survival of America depends on it.” Meanwhile, the remix of Vance’s old comments set to Petey Pablo’s hip-hop beat, “Freek-a-Leek,” has become an instant hit, amassing millions of views and reinforcing the evolving narrative of his political journey.
