A viral video montage has resurfaced online, highlighting US Vice President JD Vance's past criticisms ofDonald Trumpand accusing him of 'mind-boggling hypocrisy' in his flip-flop to unwavering loyalty. The clip, which has garnered millions of views across social media, shows Vance calling Trump a 'total fraud' who doesn't 'care about folks' and saying he 'can't stomach' him.
This stands in stark contrast to his current position as Trump's steadfast deputy in theWhite House. As of February 2026, with the administration facing midterm elections, the footage has ignited fresh discussions on the nature of political opportunism and integrity.
In 2016, as Donald Trump launched his first presidential bid, JD Vance emerged as one of his sharpest critics from within conservative circles. Helabelled Trumpan 'idiot' and 'reprehensible,' and in private correspondence, likened him to Adolf Hitler.
In public interviews, Vance declared himself a 'Never Trump guy' and described Trump as 'cultural heroin' – a quick fix that ultimately harms the working class with empty promises. His bestselling memoir 'Hillbilly Elegy' cast him as a voice for Appalachian America, yet he openly considered voting forHillary Clinton. Since-deleted tweets saw him branding Trump an 'idiot.'
Vance has since acknowledged theseviews were mistaken, attributing some of Trump's challenges to congressional obstruction. The criticism persisted into 2020, with texts criticising Trump's economic populism as unfulfilled.
Vance's shift gained momentum ahead of his 2022 Ohio Senate campaign. Recognising Trump's grip on the Republican base, he actively courted the former president's endorsement, which was instrumental in clinching the nomination and victory. By this point, Vance lauded Trump's stances on immigration, economic nationalism, and foreign policy, while scrubbing critical social media posts and expressing regret for prior remarks.
In subsequent discussions, he conceded he had been 'wrong' about Trump, praising accomplishments such as the hard line onChina. Once in the Senate, Vance evolved into a reliable Trump advocate, questioning Vice PresidentMike Pence's actions during the 2020 electioncertification and minimising dangers faced on 6 January.
This allegiance peaked with his selection as Trump's 2024 running mate, cementing him as a potential successor in the MAGA lineage.Analysts have framedthis evolution as either cynical hypocrisy or pragmatic growth, with Vance attributing it to direct observation of Trump's governance. He has defended the administration on contentious matters likeUkrainesupport and Epstein disclosures, occasionally diverging from hardline conservative views.
In this video montage, JD Vance says:1. He “never liked” Trump.2. Trump never “tells the truth”.3. Trump is a “total fraud”.4. Trump doesn’t “care about folks” .5. He “can’t stomach” Trump.pic.twitter.com/mR7lU4lkCw
Thelatest viral reel, proliferating on X, YouTube, and other platforms, assembles these archival snippets into a compelling narrative of contradiction. A notable share came from verified X userBrooklynDad_Defiant, who dubbed Vance a 'feckless phony' lacking core convictions, drawing over three million impressions.
Source: International Business Times UK
