Trump’s vice presidential nominee JD Vance has been bringing facial hair back to leadership for nearly a century

US Vice President-elect JD Vance (file photo)

JD Vance, a 40-year-old senator and close ally of Donald Trump, is poised to become the next vice president of the United States, becoming the third youngest person to hold the office. Interestingly, Vance will also be the first vice president in nearly a century to have facial hair, the New York Post reports.
The last vice president to wear a mustache was Charles Curtis in 1933, while the last with a full beard like Vance was Charles Fairbanks, who served under Theodore Roosevelt from 1905 to 1909. Vance’s distinctive style stands out as he is also the first millennial to hold such a high-ranking office.

Vance, a former critic turned staunch Trump supporter, rose to national prominence with his 2016 memoir “Hillbilly Elegy” and was elected to the Senate in 2022. Known for his alignment with Trump’s views on trade, foreign policy and immigration, Vance’s close ties to the former president secured him a spot on the ticket.
Rumors had circulated that Vance’s beard may have cost him the vice presidential election, but Trump dismissed that speculation, telling Fox News Radio host Brian Kilmeade that he found the look stylish.
“He looks good,” Trump said. “Looks like a young Abraham Lincoln.”
Previously, body language expert Joe Navarro, a former FBI agent, noted that Vance’s beard could signal assertiveness and, for some, even resistance to feminist ideals.
According to Politico, some voters may view facial hair as a symbol of masculinity – traits that can create the impression of strength and competence but can also be viewed as overly assertive, particularly by female voters. Studies have shown that beards often elicit mixed reactions, with interpretations varying widely depending on demographics.

The significance of Vance’s style choice is notable since he is the first vice president in eight decades to wear facial hair on the campaign trail.