From clashing with Zelenskyy to reviving claims over Greenland, US VP JD Vance’s first 100 days mark a sharp departure from tradition

JD Vance has taken on the historically subdued function of US Vice President with an unusually aggressive posture, stepping far past the ceremonial expectations of the workplace in his first 100 days. At simply 40, the previous Ohio senator has inserted himself into world affairs in methods few of his predecessors dared, rapidly changing into the general public face of President Donald Trump’s most controversial international coverage stances.
“Vance is unfailingly loyal to the president, knows not to overshadow the boss, and acts as an attack dog,” stated Matt Dallek, a professor of political administration at George Washington University. “But he also makes in-your-face comments that represent something of a departure from his predecessors.”
Oval Office firestorm: The Zelensky confrontation
Vance’s international profile exploded in February when he confronted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky within the Oval Office. As tensions simmered over continued US support to Ukraine, Vance accused Zelensky of being ungrateful.
“Have you said ‘thank you’ once, this entire meeting?” Vance demanded, calling the Ukrainian chief “disrespectful.” The second rapidly escalated as President Trump joined in, berating Zelensky in entrance of reporters.

Vance later denied that the change was a part of any coordinated plan to play “bad cop,” however the spectacle cemented his place as Trump’s ideological bulldog on international coverage.
Who is JD Vance? A person of many masks
Since taking workplace, there was hypothesis over which model of Vance would present up in Washington. Was he the Appalachian chronicler of Hillbilly Elegy, the Marine Corps veteran, the Yale Law School graduate, the Catholic convert, or the Silicon Valley investor?
At one level, he was additionally a staunch Trump critic, evaluating the previous president to Adolf Hitler. But since getting into politics, Vance has undergone a sharp transformation, aligning himself utterly with Trump’s agenda and presenting himself as the final word MAGA loyalist.

(*100*) warrior overseas: Europe will get an earful
Vance’s first main international look got here on the Munich Security Conference, the place he delivered a strident tackle concentrating on what he described as Europe’s “woke” tradition and overreliance on US protection.
“There’s a new sheriff in town,” he advised startled allies, signaling that America’s international coverage would now take a extra confrontational and transactional flip underneath the second Trump administration.
Signalgate: A slip that confirmed Vance’s true views
In a second that exposed greater than supposed, a journalist was by accident added to a Signal group chat discussing US airstrikes on Yemen’s Huthi rebels. In the dialog, Vance lamented, “I just hate bailing out Europe again,” criticizing US navy involvement that he argued disproportionately advantages the EU.
The leak, dubbed “Signalgate,” confirmed the vice chairman’s skepticism of conventional alliances and his choice for a nationalist, America-first strategy.
Mission Greenland: Backing Trump’s Territorial Ambition
Adding gas to one other long-standing Trump fascination, Vance visited Greenland to lend credence to the president’s renewed curiosity in buying the Danish-ruled territory. The journey was condemned as provocative by Denmark and NATO officers, however Vance defended it unapologetically.
“We can’t just ignore the president’s desires,” he stated throughout the journey, framing the go to as a gesture of loyalty to Trump’s geopolitical instincts.

His spouse, Usha Vance, made a uncommon public look throughout the go to, providing a glimpse into the non-public toll of Vance’s high-profile function. “It’s a very lonely, lonely world,” she admitted in an interview, reflecting on the stress and isolation that comes with the job.
Clashing with China: Peasants remark sparks outrage
Vance has additionally drawn fireplace from Beijing for controversial feedback about America’s debt dependence. In a speech, he claimed the US was “borrowing money from Chinese peasants,” a comment that triggered an official rebuke from China’s Foreign Ministry.
The Cheney comparability—and 2028 ambitions
Comparisons between Vance and former Vice President Dick Cheney are more and more widespread. Like Cheney, who formed George W. Bush’s international coverage and championed the Iraq War, Vance is considered as a central participant within the Trump administration’s worldwide technique—significantly in pushing again towards support to Ukraine and resisting new US navy engagements.
Speculation is already swirling about Vance’s political future. He has not dominated out a 2028 presidential run however insists he would solely transfer ahead after consulting Trump.
Trump, nevertheless, hasn’t endorsed the thought. “No,” the president advised Fox News’s Bret Baier in February when requested if Vance was his chosen successor. “But he’s very capable.”
The unconventional vice chairman
In simply three months, JD Vance has confirmed he’s no placeholder. From confrontations with world leaders to unapologetic defenses of Trump’s most polarizing concepts, Vance is just not solely redefining the function of vice chairman—he’s auditioning for one thing greater.
Whether the world is prepared for that is still to be seen. But one factor is evident: JD Vance is just not right here to wait within the wings.