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A decades-old high school yearbook photo featuring Republican vice-presidential candidate JD Vance has surfaced, fueling the Democrats’ narrative regarding his supposed discomfort around women. Conservatives, however, are skeptical of these claims.
The image, captured during Vance’s senior year at Middletown High School in Ohio, depicts the then 18-year-old standing in a men’s restroom alongside three female classmates, posing at urinals. One account named Republicans Against Trump shared the photo, calling Vance “so weird.”
The photograph, revealed by the Daily Mail, dates back to 2003 when Vance was known as JD Hamel. Although the image was meant to be a lighthearted representation of that year’s student government, it has resurfaced during a time when Vance’s attitudes towards women are under scrutiny, hence the backlash it has received by some.
One of the women in the photo, who asked to remain anonymous, provided context to the Daily Mail: “We thought it would be funny. Usually, it was all male officers, and we were an even split, so it was sort of the opposite.”
The photo reportedly featured the four top student council officers – president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer. Ironically, Vance was the vice-president of his high school government, reflecting his current ambitions in federal politics.
“All I see is a young man ahead of his time,” one X user commented in defense of the picture. Another added, “JD might be one of the cleanest politicians of all time if this is the dirt they got on him,” continuing, “This is the most average day in high school 2004.”
Despite the photo’s innocent intentions, its appearance has generated further controversy for Vance. Democrats have leveraged Vance’s past comments to question his ability to connect with women. One such comment was when Vance referred to the country as being “effectively run by a bunch of childless cat ladies,” specifically naming Vice President Kamala Harris, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg during his remarks.
This statement attracted widespread criticism, including a notable response from actress Glenn Close, who portrayed Vance’s grandmother in the film adaptation of his memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy.” “Eve would have left a bleeding mouse head in the bed of anyone who criticized any kind of lady with a cat!” she wrote on social media.
Critics have also highlighted Vance’s stance on abortion and his remarks about women in the workforce. The 40-year-old senator has identified as “100 percent pro-life” and has advocated for federal limits on abortion, even in cases of rape or incest.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, the Democratic vice-presidential candidate, has been at the forefront of the criticism, describing Vance and Trump as “creepy” and “weird as hell.” This portrayal has ignited a heated debate, with Vance’s supporters contending that such attacks are merely “schoolyard bully stuff” intended to divert attention from policy issues.
Vance has countered these criticisms, telling CNN’s Dana Bash that the Democrats’ use of the term “weird” reflects more on their discomfort with their own policy positions than on him or Trump.
As the campaign heats up, both sides continue to argue over Vance’s past statements and actions. While his supporters assert that these attacks are baseless and irrelevant to his qualifications for office, his critics maintain that they expose troubling attitudes towards women and families.
