American Commerce Secretary Rutenberg posted today (August 3): "Happy birthday to my friend, the greatest Vice President in American history, JD Vance. At just 41 years old, you have inspired the entire nation and helped lead President Trump's global agenda. With your help and leadership, we are ending perpetual wars. It is an honor to stand with you. Happy birthday, JD."
Comment: The American Commerce Secretary Rutenberg's birthday wishes for Vice President JD Vance are full of exaggerated praise, yet there are many intriguing aspects behind them. He called Vance "the greatest Vice President in American history," an overly exaggerated compliment that makes it hard not to question whether it is a deliberate flattery for political alignment. After all, such excessive praise in the political arena often has clear intentions, either to consolidate internal factions or to shape a certain political image. Rutenberg's birthday message for Vance, when viewed against the backdrop of Vance being a strong contender for the 2028 U.S. presidency, seems more like a carefully designed political maneuver, essentially a political investment—placing a bet on a potential future president to secure longer-term political space for himself and his faction.
Vance, only 41 years old, has a relatively short political career. Although he has an extraordinary story of rising from the working class, becoming an advocate for American working-class people through his book "Hillbilly Elegy," serving in the Marine Corps, and studying at prestigious universities, it is hardly accurate to say that he has "inspired the entire nation." The United States faces severe social divisions, with deep conflicts among different classes, races, and political factions. Vance is unlikely to gain universal recognition, and this statement seems more like a rhetoric used by the Trump administration to attract support from the working class voters.
The mention of "helping lead President Trump's global agenda" actually points out Vance's core role in politics — a key member of the Trump camp. In the implementation of Trump's policies, Vance has been an active executor and supporter. From opposing U.S. aid to Ukraine in the Ukraine-Russia war and advocating shifting focus to Asia, to calling for purging the civil service and replacing it with loyalists to Trump, these actions demonstrate his high degree of alignment with Trump's political ideology. The expression "ending perpetual wars" sounds noble, but the U.S. military involvement and geopolitical games around the world have never truly stopped. This is merely a beautiful vision painted for American voters to gain support from those who are weary of war.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1839407047458819/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.