An old comment made by JD Vance back in 2014 stating “I hate the police” has resurfaced on social media, sparking curiosity due to Vance being the Ohio senator and now the vice presidential running mate of GOP nominee Donald Trump.
Recently, The New York Times published an article featuring 90 emails and text messages exchanged between Vance and his close law school friend, Sofia Nelson, from 2014 to 2017. Their friendship hit a rough patch in 2021 over Vance’s support for a ban on gender-affirming care for minors in Arkansas, with Nelson, who is transgender, providing the messages.
Previous conversations between the friends reflected the prevailing political climate, touching on topics from police violence to political figures like Trump.
During August 2014, the Black Lives Matter movement surged after the killing of Michael Brown by a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri. Following this, Nelson suggested the idea of police officers wearing body cameras in an email to Vance.
Vance’s response to Nelson on his disdain for the police, citing his negative encounters over the years and recognizing the experiences Black individuals face, has drawn attention, especially as it contrasts with his recent defenses of law enforcement and his 2023 resolution backing US law enforcement officers.
This revelation has reignited discussions on Vance’s changing stances, notably his previous critiques of Trump, whom he once likened to “America’s Hitler,” but later came to support.
Nathan Robinson, editor of Current Affairs magazine, highlighted Vance’s quote, expressing skepticism about a potential campaign involving a convicted felon and someone harboring dislike for the police against a strict prosecutor. Trump, facing legal issues, remains adamant about his innocence and plans to appeal.
I don’t like the police either but a convicted felon and a guy who hates the police trying to run a “law and order” campaign against a harsh prosecutor seems unlikely to work
— Nathan J Robinson (@NathanJRobinson) July 27, 2024
Ron Filipkowski, editor-in-chief of MeidasTouch, criticized Vance in a post, pointing out Vance’s past disdain for police and how it may affect the Trump campaign’s narratives against Harris and police defunding.
President Joe Biden recently announced his withdrawal from the presidential race, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris, who has since launched her own campaign.
JD Vance wrote to his friend, in 2014, “I hate the police.”
All the Trump campaign’s junk about Harris and defund the police can’t overcome that. Your guy in writing said he hates cops because of how they treat black people. You are so screwed.
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) July 27, 2024
The Trump campaign recently received an endorsement from the National Association of Police Organizations, praising Trump’s support for law enforcement.
Various figures in the political arena, such as Tommy Vietor and Emmy Ruiz, have shared the article, emphasizing Vance’s controversial statement.