Following former President Donald Trump selecting J.D. Vance as his running mate in the 2024 presidential election, the film adaptation of “Hillbilly Elegy” is exploded in popularity among viewers on Netflix. The movie, directed by Ron Howard, is a cinematic interpretation of Vance’s hit memoir, which he published in 2016, the year Trump was first elected.
Vance’s book details his life experiences growing up in the seemingly forgotten, economically stricken Rust Belt before he set on the path to eventually become a vice presidential candidate. While many conservative Netflix users have expressed excitement over the film being featured on the streaming service, other liberals viewers have lashed out.
Reportedly, the critically acclaimed Hillbilly Elegy has sold approximately 1.6 million copies since its release. The book recounts Vance’s life, filled with accolades such as serving in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Iraq War, earning a degree from Yale Law School, and serving as a U.S. Senator representing the state of Ohio. As of Thursday, the film had reached the number four spot on Netflix’s top 10 list of most-watched films in the country.
On Wednesday, Trump officially announced that he had selected Vance as his running mate in the upcoming election. The former president posted a statement on Truth Social explaining why the Ohio senator was the best choice for the vice presidential candidacy, citing Vance’s long list of accolades and achievements, which demonstrated his political aptitude.
“After lengthy deliberation and thought, and considering the tremendous talents of many others, I have decided that the person best suited to assume the position of Vice President of the United States is Senator J.D. Vance of the Great State of Ohio. J.D. honorably served our Country in the Marine Corps, graduated from Ohio State University in two years, Summa Cum Laude, and is a Yale Law School Graduate, where he was Editor of The Yale Law Journal, and President of the Yale Law Veterans Association. J.D.’s book, “Hillbilly Elegy,” became a Major Best Seller and Movie, as it championed the hardworking men and women of our Country. J.D. has had a very successful business career in Technology and Finance, and now, during the Campaign, will be strongly focused on the people he fought so brilliantly for, the American Workers and Farmers in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Minnesota, and far beyond,” Trump wrote.
Following his selection, Vance gave a powerful speech drawing on his humble beginnings and how he was impacted by Joe Biden. “I grew up in Middletown, Ohio, a small town where people spoke their minds, built with their hands, and loved their God, family, community, and country with their whole hearts.” He added, “But it was also a place that had been cast aside and forgotten by America’s ruling class in Washington.”
He further criticized Biden’s political track record, stating, “When I was in the fourth grade, a career politician by the name of Joe Biden supported NAFTA, a bad trade deal that sent countless good American manufacturing jobs to Mexico.” He added, “And when I was a senior in high school, Joe Biden supported the disastrous invasion of Iraq. And at each step of the way, in small towns, like mine in Ohio or next door in Pennsylvania or in Michigan and other states across our country, jobs were sent overseas, and children were sent to war.”
Watch his speech below:
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