On February 20, 2025, Vice President J.D. Vance took the stage at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Oxon Hill, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C., to deliver a rousing address that framed the Trump administration’s early days as a transformative moment for American governance. In a speech that blended gratitude, faith, and a call to action, Vance declared, “We have turned a new page in Washington D.C.,” signaling a shift from the political norms of the past and a bold embrace of the “America First” agenda he shares with President Donald Trump.
“I came here last year as a very young senator, not knowing how much my life would change,” Vance told the packed audience at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center. “I’m thankful to God, but also thankful to the friendship of the people in this room for helping us get there. We are going to take advantage of the opportunity that God has given us.” The remarks, reported by attendees and later circulated by conservative media, underscored Vance’s rapid rise from a freshman senator to the second-highest office in the land—and his belief that this moment represents divine providence and collective effort.
From Senator to Vice President: A Meteoric Rise
Vance’s journey to this stage is nothing short of remarkable. Just over two years ago, in January 2023, he was sworn in as Ohio’s junior U.S. Senator, a 38-year-old political newcomer whose bestselling memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, had catapulted him into the national spotlight. By July 2024, he was Donald Trump’s running mate, selected for his Midwestern roots, populist rhetoric, and alignment with the MAGA movement. On January 20, 2025, he became the 50th Vice President of the United States, sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh during Trump’s second inauguration—making him the third-youngest vice president in U.S. history and the first millennial to hold the office.
His CPAC appearance last year, in February 2024, was as a senator advocating for reduced foreign aid and a focus on domestic manufacturing—issues that resonated with the conservative base. Returning in 2025 as vice president, Vance’s tone had evolved from that of an outsider critiquing Washington to a leader helping steer it. The shift reflects not just his personal ascent but the broader consolidation of Trump’s influence over the Republican Party and the federal government.
A New Page: The Trump-Vance Agenda Takes Shape
Vance’s declaration of a “new page” comes amid a whirlwind of executive actions in Trump’s second term. Since January 20, the administration has moved at what Vance himself called a “breakneck” pace, issuing orders on border security, energy policy, and government efficiency—often bypassing traditional norms. A key player in this push is the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, which aims to slash federal spending and bureaucracy. Vance offered a “full-throated defense” of these efforts at CPAC, according to The New York Times, arguing that they fulfill Trump’s promise to dismantle the entrenched “swamp.”
The vice president’s speech also nodded to his recent international debut. On February 14, at the Munich Security Conference, Vance had stunned European leaders by downplaying threats from Russia and China and instead criticizing their “retreat” from free speech—a stance he doubled down on at CPAC. “You do not have shared values if you’re so afraid of your own people that you silence them and shut them up,” he said, framing the administration’s approach as a rejection of both domestic and global elites.
Back home, Vance has already left his mark. On January 21, he swore in Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the first Trump cabinet nominee confirmed by Congress. Three days later, he cast the tie-breaking Senate vote to confirm Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense—a rare early use of the vice president’s constitutional power. These actions, paired with his CPAC rhetoric, paint a picture of a hands-on deputy eager to advance Trump’s vision.
Gratitude and Faith: Vance’s Personal Touch
Vance’s speech wasn’t all policy and bravado. His mention of gratitude—to God and to the CPAC crowd—echoed the personal story that first endeared him to conservatives. Raised in poverty in Middletown, Ohio, by grandparents amidst his mother’s addiction struggles, Vance’s journey through the Marine Corps, Ohio State, and Yale Law School embodies the American Dream he often champions. “The people in this room” likely included longtime backers like Peter Thiel, who bankrolled his 2022 Senate run, and Trump’s sons, Donald Jr. and Eric, who lobbied for his VP slot.
His invocation of faith aligns with his public embrace of Catholic theology, which has shaped his opposition to abortion, same-sex marriage, and what he calls the “culture of childlessness.” It’s a thread that runs through his political evolution—from a Trump skeptic in 2016 to a MAGA loyalist by 2022—and one that resonates with CPAC’s evangelical-heavy audience.
A Turning Point or a Flashpoint?
The claim of a “new page” isn’t just rhetoric; it’s a gauntlet thrown at Washington’s old guard. With Republicans controlling both chambers of Congress, Trump and Vance face minimal legislative resistance—though federal judges have already issued temporary rulings against some early actions, prompting Vance to assert that “judges aren’t allowed to control the executive’s legitimate power.” This defiance hints at a willingness to test constitutional boundaries, a hallmark of Trump’s first term now amplified by Vance’s ideological fervor.
Critics see danger in this approach. Democrats and some European allies, rattled by Vance’s Munich speech, accuse him of undermining democracy at home and abroad. A former House Democrat, reacting to Munich, charged Vance with “victim-blaming” Europe for resisting foreign interference—ironic, they say, given his defense of Trump’s 2020 election challenges. Yet among CPAC attendees, the mood was jubilant. A straw poll by J.L. Partners for DailyMail.com found Vance the overwhelming favorite for the 2028 GOP nomination, with pollster Jim McLaughlin noting, “He’s viewed as the closest thing to Donald Trump.”
Looking Ahead: Opportunity or Overreach?
Vance’s promise to “take advantage of the opportunity that God has given us” suggests a vice presidency that won’t play it safe. At 40, he’s a generational contrast to the 78-year-old Trump, positioning him as the heir apparent to the MAGA mantle—a role Kevin Roberts of the Heritage Foundation predicted when he called Vance “the future” of the movement. His high-profile speeches in Paris and Munich earlier this month, followed by CPAC, show a VP intent on shaping both domestic and global narratives.
But challenges loom. The administration’s rapid pace risks alienating moderates, while Vance’s hardline stances—on immigration, trade, and social issues—could deepen cultural divides. Europe’s frosty reception in Munich signals diplomatic hurdles, and legal battles over executive overreach could test his resolve. Still, with Trump’s approval ratings rivaling his own in early polls, Vance has the wind at his back.
As he stood before the CPAC faithful, Vance didn’t just reflect on a new page—he wrote its opening lines. Whether it’s the start of a lasting chapter or a fleeting manifesto depends on the months ahead. For now, the vice president and his allies see a divine mandate—and they’re seizing it with both hands.
