Bitter: Vance Already Shuffled Aside as Irrelevant to Inner Trump Team

We are not even a full month past the election of a 78 year old man in Pres.-elect Donald Trump and one of the least consequential players to date is incoming Vice-President J.D. Vance. At a point in time when the Trump transition needed fewer people with fewer leaks and a more efficient roll-out, it looks to the world as if the inner-core got bigger with Elon Musk and Robert Kennedy Jr. among many others having a bigger seat at the table than a soon to be Vice President. It creates a weird dynamic in which there could easily be hurt feelings and back-biting getting out to the public. It is worth watching.

MSNBC’s Michael Steele, the former GOP Chair, was the one to note the obvious in a new column published Friday. Steele writes Vance is most conspicuous in his absence:

“Vance was given the thankless task of convincing Senate Republicans to confirm Trump’s menagerie of misfit MAGA sycophants to the Cabinet. While Musk is sitting in on phone calls with Trump, Vance wasted his time trying to convince his fellow Republican senators to back Matt Gaetz, just a day before Gaetz withdrew his nomination for attorney general. That must be the worst assignment for a vice president since President Joe Biden charged Vice President Kamala Harris with solving the root causes of global migration.”

Trump, Elon, Junior & RFK scarfing McDonald’s on a private jet. ‘We’re going to make America healthy again!’ ~ Don Jr pic.twitter.com/aeRTqpz5vs

— Bo Bradley (@Vitalbiz) November 17, 2024

Yeah, but in all honesty it would seem perfectly fine to conclude that being left out of that picture will serve Vance well in the future. The photograph’s real value is the undeniable symbolism. Even Mike Johnson – who occupies what is perhaps the third or fourth most powerful position in government looks like a kid barely worth the invite… and this is in a picture that includes Don Junior. The de facto vice president of the moment is sitting smugly front and center, Elon Musk, who has to be loving this almost as much as Donald Trump himself – almost.

Meanwhile, yes – Vance is out and he should be furious. Vance – not Musk – had his ass sent to Capitol Hill on the absolute thankless task of playing sherpa to Mat Gaetz. How did that happen? How did the transition squander what precious little pull Vance has? If Vance is to be the one to broker deals with the Republican senate – a job in which he actually could be useful, even if tedious and out of the limelight – then why use up so much political capital trying to prop up Gaetz? How would you feel if you were having to say something even neutral about Gaetz a day before the nomination was withdrawn? You would feel used.

As if it cannot be worse, Vance sees himself as a humble Christian and is likely appalled by Gaetz’s behavior. Remember, even some of the most loyal MAGA-types in Congress hated Gaetz, Vance had to be one. Moreover, it is not like the transition team has handed Vance any other portfolios to handle. He is no Jared, even if infinitely more qualified. (I am comparing only to Jared.)

The Vance situation is yet another example of a massive unforced political error and risk on the part of the transition team. Remember that even though Trump is unquestionably the biggest biggest guy, it is likely that one-quarter of the team worked with Vance in the election and have some loyalty to him. He still probably has a decent-sized staff, none of whom like the thought of being used or shuffled to the side in favor of anyone else. This is how damning stuff gets leaked, when people are bitter – great care has to go into trying to ensure that everyone feels included and fulfilled.

This is to say nothing of the fact that Donald Trump is 78 years old and – by the Constitution’s terms – prohibited from running again. In such a dynamic, the incoming very young vice-president would be powerfully-positioned. Would be. And could still be. It remains to be seen. But by all appearances, most in the MAGA community still like JD Vance. It is possible that if Trump continues to needlessly hurt himself with picks like Gaetz and Hegseth that some will gravitate toward Vance as we get a year or two into the administration and further away from ascendancy. With each passing day, people will look to who might be the next-generation MAGA. Some will see Vance.

And that might explain why he’s already been set aside, to ensure that he is not seen as the logical next step, the king-in-waiting. Trump may want to keep Vance from accruing more power. We will see. But it’s likely a mistake anyway. Even if Trump wants to keep Vance out of the real circle, it is still probably best to keep rivals close and not on the outside – the direction from which damage comes.

Absolutely none of this is to be taken as helpful advice to Trump or his team, far from it. It is just an observation as to the dynamic and what one might think is their next move based on self-perceived best interests. There is nothing like a neutral vantage point to really see self-inflicted wounds.

God Bless: I can be reached at [email protected] and @JasonMiciak or on Blue Sky – my new fav, @JasonMiciak.bsky.social

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