When
JD Vance
was running for vice president, he walked across an airport tarmac in Wisconsin one August day when his campaign travels happened to intersect with those of Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and approached
Air Force Two
.
In addition to wanting to needle Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton for dodging the media, Vance stated, “I simply wanted to see my potential ride.”
He has become quite familiar with this aircraft.
During the initial months of Trump’s presidency, the
vice president
has journeyed around the world with his family to carry out high-stakes diplomatic missions for the administration, as well as making several domestic journeys.
His global excursions have included a variety of encounters with heads of state, events aimed at enhancing “soft power” and fostering positive relations, as well as quality family moments—spent alongside his spouse, Usha Vance, who grew up in Rancho Peñasquitos, and their trio of offspring—at popular attractions during their travels.
Diplomacy, deals
Vance’s journeys have encompassed a five-day trip to Europe in February, along with a quickly rearranged
trek to Greenland
In March, followed by a tour of Italy and India in April, which stood out due to the vice president’s involvement.
short audience with Pope Francis
The day prior to the pope passing away.
In his first big moment on the world stage in February, Vance
pressed Trump’s “America first” message
at an artificial intelligence summit in Paris and spoke of maintaining U.S. dominance in the surging industry.
From there, he attended a security conference in Munich, where the vice president left his audience stunned with the tone of his remarks about democracy and scant focus on Russia’s war against Ukraine.
In March, Vance delivered
pointed remarks while in Greenland,
rebuking Denmark for insufficient investment in the security of its territories and calling for a fresh strategy. Trump has angered numerous Greenlanders due to his forceful assertions that the U.S. should assert control over the island instead of Denmark.
There’s been dealmaking, too.
Last month in India, Vance declared following his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi that both sides had concurred upon a negotiation framework aimed at establishing a U.S.-India trade agreement. During his visit to Italy, he engaged in discussions with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni as well as holding individual meetings with the Pope and a high-ranking Vatican official.
Family time too
Vance travels abroad with his spouse and their three children, who are aged seven, five, and three years old. Typically, the youngsters are dressed in pajamas when they get on Air Force Two for evening journeys.
The Vances have
gazed aloft
At the recently refurbished Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris and the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City
been photographed
With the kids dressed in traditional Indian attire standing before the Taj Mahal in Agra, the Vances also toured Dachau in Germany without them.
Brad Blakeman, a previous high-ranking member of George W. Bush’s administration who has offered strategic guidance to Vance’s team regarding certain international trips, mentioned that although these excursions include some leisure activities, they should not be considered as mere holidays.
“He emphasized the importance of balancing policies with cultural considerations during trips to honor the traditions and customs of the visited locations.” He noted that exploring famous cultural landmarks overseas demonstrates respect and fosters goodwill between countries, which can strengthen diplomatic relations.
He pointed out that it’s crucial to remember the president and vice president travel at the public’s cost.
“That’s the balancing act that must continually be performed due to the responsibility of managing public funds,” he stated.
Joel Goldstein, a law professor at Saint Louis University with expertise in the U.S. vice presidency, suggested these trips might aim to enhance Vance’s experience in international affairs.
“Establishing a national security and diplomatic credibility is part of being a vice president during international trips,” he explained, emphasizing how crucial this is for Vance specifically.
At age 40, Vance
served just two years
in the Senate before
ascending to the office
.
Habits of a millennial
Vance is also the second youngest individual and the
the first among the millennials
to hold the job.
“Generations” author
Jean Twenge
A psychology professor at San Diego State University, who researches generational disparities, noted that Vance’s ability to seamlessly transition between professional duties and personal time exemplifies characteristics typical of his cohort.
“The research suggests that, just with internet use and social media use, the lines between work time and family time blur, that you switch tasks much more quickly than, say, Gen Xers or boomers,” she said.
Vance frequently switches gears on the road. Last week, he wedged in a quick beer with service members in Germany — and autographed the “kegerator” built by one airman — after days of wall-to-wall official and cultural activities throughout Italy and India.
Not always welcome
Usha Vance was
initially planned as a single-person journey
To Greenland with one of their sons to participate in a sled dog race.
However, that plan was abandoned due to increasing dissatisfaction from the governments of Greenland and Denmark regarding both the visit and President Trump’s aggressive statements about potentially seizing control of the territory from a NATO ally. As an alternative, Vice President Pence participated instead, and their tour was restricted solely to a U.S. military installation on the island.
During his trip to Italy, Vance faced criticism over X after he was seen taking photos inside the Sistine Chapel. Typically, photography is not allowed there, but it later emerged that the session had actually received approval from the Vatican, similar to what had occurred during previous visits by American officials.
During the same visit, choosing to shut down the Roman Colosseum for the general public so that Usha Vance and the kids could have an exclusive tour sparked some complaints from visitors stuck outside. Following this incident, a consumer organization subsequently submitted a formal legal protest.
In India, the Taj Mahal, which usually teems with tourists, was likewise shut down for visitors to make way for the Vances, as reported by local media outlets.
U.S. officials frequently receive formal invitations to participate in various cultural events, and it is quite common for the U.S. Secret Service — responsible for safeguarding high-ranking American dignitaries — to request site closures due to security concerns when the president or vice president visit certain locations.
It seems that the Vances made an effort at times to steer clear of these disturbances. While in France, they went to visit the Louvre on a Tuesday, even though the museum is typically shut down for visitors on that day.
History of family trips
Other former vice presidents have similarly brought family members on their trips. Presidents also engage in this practice.
As vice president, Democrat Joe Biden frequently brought one of his elder granddaughters on travels, a custom he maintained after becoming president. It was also common for presidents’ offspring, such as Malia and Sasha Obama and Chelsea Clinton, to join their parents on certain trips.
While practices may vary, the underlying concept remains consistent: Since time in office is limited, use it wisely and introduce your children to different parts of the globe.
During the family trip to India, where her parents originated from, Usha Vance expressed this sentiment. It had been many years since she last visited, and neither her husband nor her children had ever set foot there before.
During an interview with India’s NDTV, she mentioned being eager to undertake the “journey of a lifetime” with her companions.
It has been something I’ve wanted to share with our new immediate family,” the U.S. second lady stated, mentioning that they were aware Vance would get an opportunity to visit India during his tenure as vice president. “We always understood that whenever this possibility presented itself, we would join him.
“She mentioned, ‘We see this as somewhat of an entry point, hoping for numerous journeys ahead.’”
Soft diplomacy
A key objective of vice-presidential trips overseas frequently revolves around practicing soft diplomacy, which involves fostering positive sentiments towards the U.S. via visual representations and symbolic gestures.
When Vance, alongside his wife who has Indian heritage and their children, gets photographed at the Taj Mahal, it conveys a sense of unity with that country. His visit to the Vatican for worship underscores shared values with Catholic communities globally.
Likewise, when Vance appears in public with his children, it could help drive home
his quest to encourage large families
and build goodwill among American voters, said University of Dayton political scientist Christopher Devine, co-author of “Do Running Mates Matter?”
“I wonder, with JD Vance, if it’s an effort to soften his image,” Devine said. “He’s someone who has not been particularly popular ever since he entered the national scene, and appearing with family tends to make people a little more likable, harder to hate.”
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