Republican Senator JD Vance is facing backlash from a former ally who calls him a political “chameleon” lacking integrity.
During a CNN interview with Erin Burnett, lawyer Sofia Nelson, who befriended JD and Usha Vance at Yale Law School, stated that since entering politics, Vance has flipped his views on nearly every issue imaginable.
Nelson, who identifies as transgender and uses they/them pronouns, fell out with Vance after he launched his political career and supported bans on gender-affirming care for transgender minors. They claim Vance’s changes in opinion are driven by a quest for “political power and wealth.”
“What I’ve seen is a chameleon,” Nelson remarked. “Someone who can shift their positions based on what will gain them power and wealth. It’s really unfortunate and shows a lack of integrity.”
Nelson emphasized that Vance didn’t just evolve on a couple of issues but altered his stance on virtually everything, showcasing a dramatic change in how he communicates about others.
Despite some disagreements, Nelson remembered Vance as being compassionate and understanding during their decade-long friendship. “He was respectful and kind in our conversations,” they shared. “But since he aligned more with Trump, his language has shifted to a more harsh and divisive tone.”
Recently, *The New York Times* published a story featuring 90 email exchanges and text messages between Vance and Nelson from 2014 to 2017. In these messages, Vance’s viewpoints starkly contrast his recent ones, including expressing disdain for the police.
In response, Vance’s spokesperson labeled it “unfortunate” that Nelson shared private conversations with the media but noted that Vance still wishes them well despite their differences.
Vance’s stance on Trump has also changed significantly. He once described himself as a “never Trumper” and even likened the former president to “America’s Hitler” in 2016. More recently, he mentioned that he first met Trump in 2021 and quickly altered his viewpoint on him.