Who’s afraid of Jay? quite. Vance? Trump’s successor is gaining strength and shaking the US

Twelve months into the second term, the strategy appears to be working. Trump, who often praises Vance in private conversations, calls him an “athlete” for his ability to defend him in the media and at challenging events.

Despite the lack of an official case, Vance is involved in a wide range of issues (“is in the room for everything”, according to an insider). According to the report, he played a key role behind the scenes in the negotiations to transfer the ownership of the social network Tiktok to American investors, and was a decisive factor in obtaining Republican support for Trump’s tax legislation, where he even provided the tie-breaking vote in the Senate.

On the international scene, Vance traveled to Israel in October 2025 to pressure the government and Hamas to uphold the cease-fire agreement, and gave a strong speech at the Munich Security Conference against the European allies.

Vance, the third-youngest vice president in history and who has been described as a “digital native,” has adopted an aggressive media strategy. He acts as a prominent voice in the right-wing media system, hosts podcasts and confronts critics on social networks.

Despite his current success, party officials warn that his absolute adherence to Trump is a “double-edged sword.” While this loyalty may secure him the Republican nomination, there is concern about his ability to attract independent voters and keep the MAGA movement alive without Trump on the ballot. A close adviser to Vance concluded that the vice president is aware that his political future is tied to the success of the president, and he is betting that a staunch defense of Trump is the best way to secure his place as successor.