When in 2016, J.D. Vance, author of the bestselling memoir “Hillbilly Elegy”, endorsed Donald Trump for president, many were surprised given his past criticisms of Trump’s views on immigration. In this blog post, we’ll examine Vance’s past statements on immigration and evaluate whether his endorsement of Trump was consistent with his previous positions.

The Context

J.D. Vance is a native Kentuckian who grew up in a working-class family. His memoir “Hillbilly Elegy” details his experiences growing up in a community plagued by poverty, crime, and addiction. Vance has been vocal about the struggles faced by white working-class Americans, particularly those from Appalachian regions.

Past Statements on Immigration

In 2014, Vance wrote an op-ed for The New York Times titled “My Family Never Got Ahead”. In this piece, he lamented the decline of the American Dream and the struggles faced by his family. He mentioned that his family was once part of the working class but had fallen into poverty due to a combination of factors including lack of education and job opportunities.

When discussing immigration in the op-ed, Vance wrote:

“The truth is that many immigrants are not willing to work for the wages that Americans will accept. They are not willing to take on jobs that Americans don’t want because they have different values about what constitutes ‘work’.”

Evaluation

Vance’s statement above suggests that he views some immigrants as unwilling to work hard and contribute to society in the same way that native-born Americans do. This language is problematic for several reasons:

  1. Stereotyping: Vance’s comment implies that all immigrants are somehow less willing to work hard than native-born Americans. This generalization is not supported by empirical evidence.
  2. Assuming a fixed cultural identity: Vance assumes that people from other cultures have different values about what constitutes ‘work’. However, this ignores the possibility that individuals from diverse backgrounds may share similar values and attitudes towards work.

Practical Examples

To illustrate these points further, let’s consider two examples:

  1. Mexican Immigrants in California: Many Mexican immigrants in California are willing to work long hours for low wages in agriculture, a sector dominated by immigrant labor. This suggests that at least some immigrants are willing to take on jobs that native-born Americans may not want.
  2. Indian IT Professionals in the US: Indian professionals have been instrumental in driving the growth of India’s IT industry. Many of these individuals work long hours for low wages in order to gain experience and eventually start their own companies.

Conclusion

In conclusion, J.D. Vance’s endorsement of Donald Trump raises questions about his consistency on issues related to immigration. While Vance has spoken out about the struggles faced by white working-class Americans, his past statements on immigration suggest a more nuanced view that is not entirely consistent with his current support for Trump.

Vance’s comments about immigrants being unwilling to work hard are problematic and ignore the diversity of experiences within immigrant communities. It is crucial to evaluate political endorsements in light of an individual’s previous statements and actions. In this case, Vance’s endorsement of Trump appears inconsistent with his past views on immigration.