Vance debuts new role as Trump’s point person on Capitol Hill

After rarely being seen in public in the two weeks since he delivered a brief, 46-second victory speech on election night, JD Vance reemerged this week to play one of the most important roles he will be expected to fill as Donald Trump’s No. 2: His point person on Capitol Hill.

After rarely being seen in public in the two weeks since he delivered a brief, 46-second victory speech on election night, JD Vance reemerged this week to play one of the most important roles he will be expected to fill as Donald Trump’s No. 2: His point person on Capitol Hill. The first-term Ohio senator has been tasked by the president-elect to help oversee his policy priorities and ensure lawmakers don’t stand in the way of enacting his agenda, multiple sources familiar with the discussions told CNN. That includes a concerted push to shore up support for Trump’s Cabinet picks, starting with two of the most controversial, both of whom face allegations of sexual misconduct that they deny. On Wednesday, Vance brought former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, Trump’s choice for attorney general, to the Hill to meet with the senators who will be crucial during his confirmation process. And on Thursday, he’ll do the same for former Fox News host Pete Hegseth, Trump’s pick to run the Department of Defense. The effort marks an early test of Vance’s influence in the Senate, a body he joined less than two years ago. His ability to help secure the confirmation of Trump’s Cabinet choices, especially the most unorthodox ones, will be a key measure of the vice president-elect’s political acumen and sway. Congressional Republicans acknowledge that Vance hasn’t necessarily developed longstanding relationships on Capitol Hill during his abbreviated time in Washington. “He doesn’t have long relationships. But we all like people who have done what we’ve done. There’s sort of a natural kinship, just not as long,” said North Dakota Sen. Kevin Cramer.