Trump's heir: Who are you, J.D. Vance?

Vice President J.D. Vance is taking a central role in the Trump administration, leading negotiations with Iran among other things. Last week, he became embroiled in a public dispute with Trump himself when he stated that lowering oil prices is more important than preventing an Iranian nuclear program. Dr. Kobi Barda from HIT Holon explains in the article who Vance is and why his positions on Israel will have to be moderated if he wants to lead the Republican Party in the 2028 elections. Barda explains that Vance's role has been enhanced compared to previous vice presidents, and Trump trusts him and allows him to lead initiatives like the negotiations with Iran. However, Trump is trying to maneuver between two opposing parts of the base: the nationalist MAGA faction that wants to reduce American involvement in the world, and the Christian Zionist evangelists whose involvement in foreign policy is significant regarding Israel. This friction places Israel at a significant crossroads within the party. Barda describes Vance's background, growing up in the Appalachian Mountains in a rough rural environment, with a difficult childhood and an alcoholic mother, and being raised by his grandparents. From there, he managed to break out of the cycle, was accepted to a prestigious university, and continued to leadership roles. According to him, globalization has harmed America in Vance's eyes, and the Appalachian region became the 'Rust Belt' left behind. To lead the party, Vance will have to contend with many players and moderate his positions on Israel, due to the strong lobby of Christian Zionists.