JD Vance's 'I Hate the Police' Remark Raises Eyebrows

A 2014 statement by JD Vance expressing disdain for the police has resurfaced on social media, creating a stir as the Ohio senator now serves as the running mate for GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump.

On Saturday, The New York Times released an article featuring 90 emails and text messages from Vance spanning from 2014 to 2017. These messages were provided by Vance’s former close friend, Sofia Nelson, who is transgender and had a falling out with Vance in 2021 over his support for an Arkansas ban on gender-affirming care for minors.

The communications between Vance and Nelson reflected the political climate of the time, including issues such as police violence and various political figures, including Trump.

The controversy began on August 9, 2014, when unarmed Black teenager Michael Brown was fatally shot by white police officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, Missouri. The incident sparked nationwide protests and contributed to the rise of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, which had started the previous year.

Two months after Brown’s death, Nelson suggested in an email to Vance that police officers should be mandated to wear body cameras. In response, Vance reportedly wrote, "I hate the police," citing negative personal experiences and expressing empathy for the Black community’s struggles.

A spokesperson for the Vance campaign, Luke Schroeder, condemned the leak of these private conversations, stating, "It’s unfortunate this individual chose to leak decade-old private conversations between friends to The New York Times. Senator Vance values his friendships across the political spectrum and has been open about how his views evolved over the years, particularly after becoming a father and starting a family. Despite their differences, Senator Vance cares for Sofia and wishes her well."

Vance’s earlier comment stands in stark contrast to his more recent positions, such as his criticism of political opponents advocating for police defunding and his 2023 resolution supporting U.S. law enforcement officers. This discrepancy has drawn considerable attention from social media users, especially those critical of Vance.

The controversy also reignites debate about Vance’s shifting stance on former President Trump. Vance was once a vocal critic of Trump, even labeling him "America's Hitler," but has since become a supporter.

Nathan Robinson, editor of Current Affairs magazine, commented on X (formerly Twitter), "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." This comment comes in the wake of Trump’s conviction on 34 felony counts related to a hush money case, which Trump denies and plans to appeal.

Ron Filipkowski, editor-in-chief of the progressive MeidasTouch outlet, remarked on X, "JD Vance wrote to his friend in 2014, 'I hate the police.' All the Trump campaign's junk about Harris and defunding 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."

In related political news, President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from this year's presidential race and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, who has since launched her own campaign.

The Trump campaign highlighted its support from the National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO) on July 24. The NAPO's endorsement praised Trump’s unwavering public support for law enforcement.

Patriot Takes, an anonymous account dedicated to exposing right-wing extremism, shared the Trump campaign’s endorsement and highlighted Vance’s 2014 comment, asking, "This your guy? JD Vance: 'I hate the police.'"

The article has been widely shared by prominent Democratic figures, including Tommy Vietor, a former staffer for President Barack Obama, and Emmy Ruiz, the White House political director, further amplifying the controversy surrounding Vance.