Sofia Nelson, a former friend of Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) from law school, said the vice presidential nominee has changed his opinion on “every imaginable issue.”
Nelson joined CNN’s Erin Burnett on Monday to discuss why she recently shared years-old texts and emails from Vance. She said the Vance who was named former President Trump’s running mate is not the one she knew.
“What I’ve seen is a chameleon, someone who is able to change their positions and their values depending on what will amass them political power and wealth,” Nelson said. “And I think that’s really unfortunate, because it reflects a lack of integrity.”
“This isn’t someone who evolved on one or two issues and with new information — this is someone who’s changed their opinion on literally every imaginable issue that affects everyday Americans in this country,” she continued.
Vance has faced lingering skepticism in Republican circles over his past denouncements of Trump, and more recently for criticizing Democrats who don’t have children.
Nelson shared her past communication with Vance with The New York Times. The emails and texts are primarily from 2014 to 2017 and criticize Trump for “racism,” calling him a “morally reprehensible human being.”
Nelson, who is transgender, said Vance was supportive of her transition, including bringing her homemade baked goods.
After Vance published “Hillbilly Elegy,” he emailed Nelson to let her know that in the book, she’s described as a lesbian, but recognized and apologized that “this may not accurately reflect how you think of yourself.”
The friends had a falling out in 2021, the Times reported, after Vance supported an Arkansas ban on gender-affirming care for minors.
“The JD Vance that I was friends with for over a decade was compassionate. And, you know, we frequently disagreed — that’s reflected in the emails. But he always approached conversations with respect and kindness, which I think is so essential,” Nelson said.
She said she saw a shift with Vance when he decided to run for Senate in 2022, adopting a “similar persona” to Trump.
“It’s reflected in his Twitter, it’s obviously reflected in his ‘cat lady’ comments and reflected in our interpersonal communications in the end of our friendship,” Nelson said. “He just started talking in this divisive, dismissive and cruel way about people who are different from him, and that is just not the person that I used to know.”
In a statement, Luke Schroeder, a spokesperson for Vance, said it’s “unfortunate” that Nelson leaked “decade-old private conversations between friends.”
“Senator Vance values his friendships with individuals across the political spectrum. He has been open about the fact that some of his views from a decade ago began to change after becoming a dad and starting a family, and he has thoroughly explained why he changed his mind on President Trump,” the statement said. “Despite their disagreements, Senator Vance cares for Sofia and wishes Sofia the very best.”
—Updated at 10:54 a.m.