JD Vance, a former venture capitalist whose Senate campaign and push to become Republican nominee Donald Trump’s running mate were fueled by billionaire cash, portrayed himself as an ally of the U.S. working class during his speech Wednesday night at the GOP’s convention. Vance accepted the party’s vice-presidential nomination with promises to champion the interests of everyday Americans.
“We’re done, ladies and gentlemen, catering to Wall Street. We’ll commit to the working man,” said Vance, who made millions working in Silicon Valley, including for billionaire Peter Thiel’s company Mithril Capital, before founding his own venture capital firm, Narya.
Vance emphasized the need for leadership that is not beholden to big business, declaring, “We need a leader who’s not in the pocket of big business, but answers to the working man, union and nonunion alike.” Despite this rhetoric, Vance has a history of opposing landmark legislation designed to strengthen workers’ rights and has supported a bill criticized for empowering corporations to create their own internal labor organizations, often referred to as “company unions.”
Vance also lauded Trump, a billionaire himself, as a hero to the working class, despite Trump’s record of undermining labor protections and appointing federal judges who oppose organized labor. “President Trump’s vision is so simple and yet so powerful,” Vance said. “Together, we will protect the wages of American workers.”
The AFL-CIO responded to Vance’s speech with sharp criticism. “If JD Vance were pro-worker, he would have supported the PRO Act,” the labor federation wrote on social media. “But he didn’t—he opposed it and introduced his own legislation to allow corporate bosses to create their own sham unions.” According to the AFL-CIO, Vance has “voted with working people” 0% of the time as a senator, lower than the Republican average of 3%.
Vance’s ascent from bestselling author to senator to vice-presidential nominee was supported at every turn by some of the wealthiest individuals in the United States. Peter Thiel, a co-founder of PayPal and an outspoken advocate for far-right politics, bankrolled Vance’s Senate bid, contributing more than $13 million to a super PAC backing Vance in a crowded primary field. Vance also received substantial campaign contributions from Big Oil.
Trump’s decision to choose Vance as his 2024 running mate was influenced by a behind-the-scenes lobbying effort from the world’s richest man, Elon Musk, and other tech billionaires. The New York Times reported earlier this week that Musk “told Mr. Trump directly that he should choose Mr. Vance as his running mate, describing the Trump-Vance pairing as ‘beautiful.’”
Former U.S. Labor Secretary Robert Reich also weighed in on Vance’s claims. “Let’s be clear here. JD Vance is no champion of working-class people,” Reich wrote. “He’s a former venture capitalist backed by billionaires. He has ties to Big Pharma. He’s raked in Big Oil cash. He has an awful record on worker rights. He will sell out workers in a heartbeat.”
Vance’s political stance is marked by his opposition to the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, a bill aimed at strengthening workers’ rights to unionize. Instead, Vance has been a leading advocate for legislation that critics argue would allow corporations to fend off union organizing drives by establishing their own internal labor organizations.
Despite his rhetoric, Vance’s record tells a different story. His opposition to the PRO Act and support for corporate-friendly labor legislation have drawn criticism from labor organizations and workers’ rights advocates. The AFL-CIO’s assessment of Vance’s voting record reflects his consistent alignment with corporate interests over those of working people.
During his speech, Vance attempted to align himself with Trump’s populist message, despite the former president’s contentious relationship with labor unions. Trump’s administration was marked by efforts to roll back labor protections and stack federal courts with judges who oppose organized labor. Nevertheless, Vance praised Trump’s policies, claiming they protected American workers’ wages.
Public and media reactions to Vance’s speech have highlighted the disconnect between his claims and his record. Social media responses have pointed out the irony of a billionaire-backed venture capitalist positioning himself as a champion of the working class.
Former U.S. Labor Secretary Robert Reich summarized the sentiment of many critics, saying, “JD Vance’s record shows he’s no friend to the working class, despite his claims. His track record speaks for itself.”
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