Donald Trump’s newly-announced running mate has publicly mocked those who alter their pronouns, despite having changed his name multiple times in his own life.
Vance’s personal history includes not just one, but two legal name changes, with his latest shift to being known simply as “J.D.” revealed when he was introduced as Trump’s running mate—despite it not being his current legal name.
While Vance has readily embraced altering significant aspects of his personal life, such as his religious affiliation by converting to Catholicism in 2019 after an evangelical upbringing, he appears less accommodating of others seeking similar autonomy.
“The pronoun fad is so weird. Why not just say “Mr.” and “Ms.”? That’s what we did when America was still a real country,” he posted to X.
Don't Miss
Vance has also established himself as a staunchly anti-LGBT legislator since entering Congress in 2022. Last year, he proposed legislation aiming to outlaw transition-related medical care for minors nationwide, threatening doctors with severe penalties for non-compliance.
Born James Donald Bowman in Middletown, Ohio, he initially altered his name after his parents’ divorce, disassociating from his biological father. At age six, he was adopted by his mother’s new husband and became James David Hamel.
In 2003, J.D. Vance, then known as James Hamel, served as the vice president of his senior class at Middletown High School. The yearbook features his senior portrait from that time. (Screenshot)
Despite subsequent changes in familial circumstances, Vance retained the name Hamel through his high school years, where he was notably elected vice president of his class.
The decision for a second name change came during his time at Yale Law School, where he recounted his upbringing and lack of paternal presence to friends. It was also where he met his future wife, Usha Chilukuri.
Following their marriage in 2014, both Vance and Chilukuri adopted the surname Vance, aligning with the family name of his maternal grandparents—an identity he finally felt belonged to him.
Vance, now 39, continues to navigate the complexities of identity, reflecting both personal evolution and public stance on issues of personal choice and belonging.
