Vance Discusses Campaign Strategy with Trump: 'We're Speaking to Different People in Different Ways'
Vance Discusses Campaign Strategy with Trump: 'We're Speaking to Different People in Different Ways'
Just a week ago, the friction between former President Donald Trump and Georgia Governor Brian Kemp seemed insurmountable. Trump's constant criticism of a key Republican from a battleground state appeared to threaten his own campaign's prospects.
Enter Trump's running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance. After a phone conversation with Kemp, who had endured harsh attacks from Trump, Kemp soon appeared on Fox News to publicly support the GOP ticket. Not long after, Trump expressed his gratitude for Kemp's supportive remarks.
In an interview with NBC News aboard his campaign plane on Tuesday night, Vance played down his role in easing tensions, suggesting he was one of many influential voices Kemp was hearing. However, Vance outlined a strategy, endorsed by Trump, leveraging the fact that he can connect with people in ways that Trump might not.
“There are a lot of similarities, but there are also a lot of differences,” Vance said, describing his partnership with Trump. Reflecting on their campaign approach, Vance recalled Trump saying, “‘I trust you. We should both be in different places unless it’s a really big event ... divide and conquer.’”
“We’re each trying to communicate with different people in different ways, and we’re each trying to run the race as effectively as we can,” Vance added. “Trump obviously sets the tone and the policies, and I just try to support him.”
The conflict between Trump and Kemp dates back to Kemp's refusal to challenge the 2020 election results in Georgia, where Trump narrowly lost to President Joe Biden. Democrats are hopeful about their chances in Georgia this year; Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, are starting a bus tour there on Wednesday.
Vance mentioned that his conversation with Kemp emphasized the common goals shared by Kemp and Trump.
“My approach was, ‘I’m not going to change your mind about Trump, just like I’m not going to change Trump’s mind about you. But you both agree on 90% of the issues. You can set personal differences aside,’” Vance said. “I think many people were conveying this message to both Trump and Kemp, and I’m glad Kemp reached a positive decision, but I don’t take any credit for it.”
Cody Hall, a senior adviser to Kemp, stated that “the governor conveyed to Senator Vance the same message he’s been delivering for over a year, and repeated last week: he fully supports the Republican ticket, is committed to winning Georgia for Trump, and strongly believes that the country can’t afford a Kamala Harris presidency.”
During the interview, Vance also discussed reconciling some of his policy views with Trump’s, particularly on abortion. Vance had campaigned against a constitutional amendment that passed in Ohio, securing abortion rights. He had also previously supported federal abortion restrictions. Now, on the GOP ticket, Vance defers to Trump, who favors leaving the issue to individual states.
“I don’t think it’s about abandoning your values,” Vance said. “I am pro-life and care deeply about the issue. I want to save as many babies as possible. But I also understand that voters make these decisions. We campaigned hard against the amendment in Ohio, and we lost. So those of us who are pro-life need to reconsider how we communicate our message to the American people.”
Vance stated he didn’t see any “major misalignment” with Trump on any issues. “But even if there were, the voters chose him, and he chose me,” he said. “My role is to advocate for the campaign and help make Trump the next president.”
The interview took place on Vance’s return to Washington after a fundraiser in Nashville and a visit to Big Rapids, Michigan. Vance has upcoming events in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, which, along with Michigan, are key “blue wall” states that Trump won in 2016 but which flipped to Biden in 2020. Vance, who often speaks about his working-class background and how it informs his populist economic views, has made 20 stops in these states since joining the ticket.
In Big Rapids, where plans for an electric vehicle battery plant linked to China have sparked controversy, Vance’s event was described as a small-scale discussion on the economy. However, it resembled a rally, with hundreds of people gathering under the hot sun on a horse farm.
There, Vance launched a new attack on Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee. Referring to a report accusing Harris of changing her stance on a border wall, Vance claimed she was “copying all of Donald Trump’s policies.”
“In fact,” Vance joked, “I’ve heard she plans to wear a navy suit, a long red tie, and adopt the slogan ‘Make America Great Again’ for her upcoming debate.”
Afterward, Vance visited a nearby A&W restaurant, serving root beer floats and taking selfies with attendees, contrasting with his earlier visit to a bakery in Valdosta, Georgia. During that visit, with the media present, Vance had awkward interactions while buying doughnuts, and an employee asked not to be filmed. A video of the uncomfortable encounter went viral.
“I felt so bad for that woman,” Vance said on the plane, referring to the bakery worker. “We walked in with Secret Service and cameras everywhere, and she wasn’t prepared. She was clearly terrified. I felt awful for her.”
Vance said he enjoys engaging with people and has instructed his team to better plan such visits in the future. “We don’t script these events. I don’t want to do multiple takes of buying snacks at a gas station,” Vance said, referencing a recent Harris visit to a Pennsylvania gas station. “I want to interact with people genuinely, but we need to make sure people are comfortable with being on camera, so we don’t cause anyone anxiety.”
Vance’s mother, Beverly Aikins, accompanied him on the trip. Vance has written about her battle with drug addiction in his memoir “Hillbilly Elegy” and celebrated her nearing 10 years of sobriety during his speech at the Republican convention. He shared her story with the Big Rapids crowd, linking his family’s challenges to what he described as the failures of past leaders.
“I want people to see him as I do,” Aikins said to NBC News as her son met with supporters at the A&W. “He’s a wonderful person, and he genuinely believes he can make a difference.”
Back on the plane, with Aikins sitting beside him, Vance mentioned he hasn’t decided who will play Walz in their upcoming debate prep.
“I aim to understand the details, whether at a rally, press conference, or policy speech,” Vance said. “If you know the details, you can form your views. This stuff needs to be natural. Over-scripting or over-preparing would be a mistake.”
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