Trump Denies J.D. Vance's Beard Will Affect His VP Chances

David Moye

10 July 2024 at 2:53 pm·3-min read

As Democratic Party officials debate whether Joe Biden should step away from the 2024 presidential race, the Republican Party is facing a hairy situation of its own: J.D. Vance’s beard.

Vance is reportedly on Donald Trump’s short list to be his vice presidential running mate, along with North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.

However, one thing that may affect the Ohio senator’s chances is his beard — because Trump reportedly hates facial hair, according to The Bulwark.

“J.D. has a beard. But Trump is a clean-shaven guy. He just doesn’t like facial hair,” a Trump source who supports Vance told the website, adding, “You just never know.”

But shaving the beard presents a problem for the senator, according to another source, who pointed out that Vance, who turns 40 on Aug. 2, has a baby face and “looks like he’s 12” without one.

Trump denied that Vance’s beard could be a dealbreaker during a Wednesday radio interview with Brian Kilmeade.

“Real quick, on your vice president candidate, word is that you won’t pick J.D. Vance because of his facial hair. Is that true?” Kilmeade asked.

“No,” the former president replied, adding that he thinks Vance “looks good ... like a young Abraham Lincoln.”

Kilmeade agreed.

“Right? He’s a handsome man,” the radio host said.

But Trump didn’t want to go that far with compliments.

“Nah, he’s a nice guy,” Trump responded.

You can watch the exchange below.

Vance’s office did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for comment.

However, Marc Caputo, co-author of the Bulwark article, argued that the fact Vance’s beard is a topic of discussion “is a tell.”

JD Vance is the best bet on thepredictive markets to be Trump’s running mate. But an only-in-MAGAville issue might stand in his way: facial hair

Trump is a clean-shaven guy

But the fact that Vance’s beard is part of the chatter is a tell …https://t.co/ieBQccIIHA
— Marc Caputo (@MarcACaputo) July 9, 2024

Meanwhile, people on social media started making predictions about Vance’s next career move (spoiler alert: It involves a razor blade).

Trump doesn’t like beards. The GOP convention is next week. Let’s start a pool with the date and time that JD Vance first appears in public without his beard.

Go!
— Darlene Bremer 🇺🇸 (@DarBFreelance) July 10, 2024

The question is not whether JD Vance will shave his beard. The question is when.

5 days to the convention. My money is on Friday. pic.twitter.com/Mh9c4uRo0O
— Jez Bell ❣️ (@jezzie_bell) July 10, 2024

let’s just take a moment to enjoy jd Vance growing a beard to look less doughy, and that disqualifying him from consideration
— Merrill Overturf (@merrillov3rturf) July 10, 2024

Trump to JD Vance: shave the beard and stop being weird

JD Vance to Trump: no
— Mark R. Yzaguirre (@markyzaguirre) July 10, 2024

'Trump's got his quirks': Trump VP hopeful, JD Vance, may lose out because Trump doesn't like beards.

Because Trump claims 'presentation is very important.'.....the kind of 'presentation' exemplified by orange skin and matching ferret bouffant.
https://t.co/8NIIHOf3I4
— Mar-a-Hell-No!! (@Mar_a_Hell_No) July 9, 2024

Personally, I think the issue with the vapid ambitous hypocrite JD Vance is his vapid ambitious hypocrisy...but if his beard sidetracks his rise to power that works too... https://t.co/QLeVfLxdps
— Andrew Donaldson (@four4thefire) July 9, 2024

One person noted that Vance may already be changing his look.

JD Vance. He shaved his beard down to a designer stubble a couple of days ago. pic.twitter.com/oaVP0slLZc
— Karen J (@KaJo503) July 9, 2024

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