From clashing with Zelenskyy to reviving claims over Greenland, US VP JD Vance’s first 100 days mark a pointy departure from custom – The Occasions of India

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, shortly changing into the general public face of President Donald Trump’s most controversial international coverage stances.
“Vance is unfailingly loyal to the president, is aware of to not overshadow the boss, and acts as an assault canine,” mentioned Matt Dallek, a professor of political administration at George Washington College. “However he additionally makes in-your-face feedback that symbolize one thing of a departure from his predecessors.”
Oval Workplace firestorm: The Zelensky confrontation
Vance’s world profile exploded in February when he confronted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky within the Oval Workplace. As tensions simmered over continued US assist to Ukraine, Vance accused Zelensky of being ungrateful.
“Have you ever mentioned ‘thanks’ as soon as, this whole assembly?” Vance demanded, calling the Ukrainian chief “disrespectful.” The second shortly escalated as President Trump joined in, berating Zelensky in entrance of reporters.

Vance later denied that the alternate was a part of any coordinated plan to play “dangerous cop,” however the spectacle cemented his place as Trump’s ideological bulldog on international coverage.
Who’s 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 Regulation College 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. However since coming into politics, Vance has undergone a pointy transformation, aligning himself utterly with Trump’s agenda and presenting himself as the final word MAGA loyalist.

Tradition warrior overseas: Europe will get an earful
Vance’s first main international look got here on the Munich Safety Convention, the place he delivered a strident deal with concentrating on what he described as Europe’s “woke” tradition and overreliance on US protection.
“There’s a brand new sheriff on the town,” he advised startled allies, signaling that America’s international coverage would now take a extra confrontational and transactional flip below the second Trump administration.
Signalgate: A slip that confirmed Vance’s true views
In a second that exposed greater than meant, a journalist was unintentionally added to a Sign group chat discussing US airstrikes on Yemen’s Huthi rebels. Within the dialog, Vance lamented, “I simply hate bailing out Europe once more,” criticizing US navy involvement that he argued disproportionately advantages the EU.
The leak, dubbed “Signalgate,” confirmed the vp’s skepticism of conventional alliances and his desire for a nationalist, America-first method.
Mission Greenland: Backing Trump’s Territorial Ambition
Including gasoline to a different 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 are able to’t simply ignore the president’s wishes,” he mentioned in the course of 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 in the course of the go to, providing a glimpse into the private toll of Vance’s high-profile function. “It’s a really lonely, lonely world,” she admitted in an interview, reflecting on the strain and isolation that comes with the job.
Clashing with China: Peasants remark sparks outrage
Vance has additionally drawn hearth from Beijing for controversial feedback about America’s debt dependence. In a speech, he claimed the US was “borrowing cash from Chinese language peasants,” a comment that triggered an official rebuke from China’s Overseas Ministry.
The Cheney comparability—and 2028 ambitions
Comparisons between Vance and former Vice President Dick Cheney are more and more frequent. Like Cheney, who formed George W. Bush’s international coverage and championed the Iraq Battle, Vance is considered as a central participant within the Trump administration’s worldwide technique—notably in pushing again in opposition to assist to Ukraine and resisting new US navy engagements.
Hypothesis 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 Information’s Bret Baier in February when requested if Vance was his chosen successor. “However he’s very succesful.”
The unconventional vp
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 shouldn’t be solely redefining the function of vp—he’s auditioning for one thing greater.
Whether or not the world is prepared for that is still to be seen. However one factor is obvious: JD Vance shouldn’t be right here to attend within the wings.