Media Criticism

Robby Soave | 7.18.2024 11:47 AM

Sen. J.D. Vance (R–Oh.), the GOP's vice presidential nominee, made his speaking debut at the Republican National Convention Wednesday night, hitting themes of economic populism and remembering the forgotten American worker.

For many reasons, Donald Trump's selection of Vance should come as something of a disappointment for libertarians. Of all the people Trump was reportedly considering for the job—North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, and others—Vance is the least inspired option. He favors a bevy of progressive policies: He wants higher tariffs, has praised the minimum wage, and is enthralled by Federal Trade Commissioner Lina Khan, a Biden appointee who is currently at war with the American consumer. Vance's selection is all the more depressing given that Trump nearly picked the more liberty-friendly Burgum but was talked out of it by his sons.

While Vance's big-government economic views should make him few friends among libertarians, he is getting very little credit from people who might ostensibly........

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