 He called the then candidate cultural heroine. And even in a text message to a former roommate that leaked, he called Donald Trump, and this is his quote, America's Hitler. But in the years since, Vance has described himself as a convert to the MAGA movement. He has developed a close friendship with Donald Trump Jr. And it no doubt was his service as a Marine, his Yale law degree, his deep connection to the base, all of which heavily weighed in his favor, Alex.