Author J.D. Vance has adopted a host of extreme right positions since throwing his hat into the ring for the Ohio Senate race. He's said professors are the "enemy." He's said we should "promote" the "values" of Kyle Rittenhouse, the far-right media darling who rose to fame for killing two people during uprisings against racist police brutality. He's defended far-right Fox News host Tucker Carlson and the white supremacist "great replacement" theory.
So as Russian President Vladimir Putin was escalating tensions with Ukraine last week, people weren't exactly surprised to see Vance was perfectly content to abandon a U.S. ally from a fascist regime.
Watch below.
OH Senate candidate JD Vance: “I think it’s ridiculous that we are focused on this border in Ukraine. I got to be honest with you, I don’t really care what happens to Ukraine one way or the other.” pic.twitter.com/QtZbckZf0b
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) February 19, 2022
Vance said:
“I think it’s ridiculous that we are focused on this border in Ukraine. I got to be honest with you, I don’t really care what happens to Ukraine one way or the other.”
In the days following those callous comments, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine that's already led to more than 100 casualties in just over a day of fighting.
It just so happens that Ohio, which Vance wants to represent in the United States Senate, has more than 80 thousand citizens of Ukrainian descent.
It's something he must've just realized, because Vance released a lengthy statement on Twitter blasting Putin for the invasion and taking Ukraine's side.
Our leaders should be honest with the American people and admit what they really want: military intervention from American or NATO troops. This would be a disaster, and we must stand against it under any circumstance.
FULL STATEMENT: pic.twitter.com/CIcPp6T8nP
— J.D. Vance (@JDVance1) February 24, 2022
The statement spends a considerable amount of focus decrying direct U.S. military intervention in Ukraine, which President Joe Biden has repeatedly said was off the table.
The five-paragraph statement is a marked departure from the sentiment that he doesn't care what happens to Ukraine one way or the other.
Social media users noticed.
This you? https://t.co/VwkZ4J72jG
— Dan Epstein (@BigHairPlasGras) February 24, 2022
Vance today: "Russia's assault on Ukraine is unquestionably a tragedy, especially for the innocent people caught in the line of fire"
Vance 5 days ago: "I don’t really care what happens to Ukraine one way or the other"https://t.co/vKAYutrMJN
— 🇺🇸 John "Kill the filibuster NOW!" Wright (@TheWrightJohn) February 25, 2022
"I gotta be honest with you, I don’t really care what happens to Ukraine one way or another." J.D. Vance https://t.co/RV1MzWTZEV
— Save Us From 45 (@ChestnutLouisa) February 25, 2022
@JDVancePress @JDVance1
Your first said I dont care about Ukraine but now express concern for them.
You are a hypocrite who seeks power.
Ohio voters beware the man who doesn't know his voters or Ohio in general. https://t.co/H2hHFDtPo6
— KCMIKE60 (@kcmike60) February 25, 2022
Reminder, last week this venture & poverty vampire said this. https://t.co/Vj59x7PfQ9 https://t.co/Fg36vroAJd
— Raffles (@RafflesCSC) February 25, 2022
“Two days ago I said I didn’t care about Ukraine, now I have several opinions so I can appear relevant” #ExMarine https://t.co/5P3QuLiyHR
— Tyler Durden (@kevinlh1975) February 25, 2022
People were pretty sure they knew the reason for Vance's sudden concern.
Sounds like someone found out about the 80K or so Ukrainians who live in Ohio. https://t.co/Oe1v9gztSf
— Jackie Kucinich (@JFKucinich) February 24, 2022
Looks like someone just got a map of Ohio pic.twitter.com/Y0MUPi3r32
— Jennifer Boeder (@jenniferboeder) February 24, 2022
I thought you didn't care one way or the other?
Or did you find out that you have approx 80,000 Ukrainian-Americans in Ohio?
Don't worry, we're making the campaign videos already. You're making it low-cost since we can use your own video, provided here:https://t.co/Aus4ewiD29
— Matthew J. Kuiken 🇺🇦 (@Juris_Sequoia) February 24, 2022
Vance's comments come as his supporters express concerns about his polling performance.
@SecretaryBurgum/X
@Doug Ellin/X
@evanrachelwood/Instagram