Dan Crenshaw joins chorus questioning Trump VP pick, saying he was ‘surprised’ by Vance

Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) indicated he doesn’t hold a high opinion of former President Donald Trump’s choice of a running mate during an interview with a top Democratic strategist.

Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) has faced a chorus of criticism since he was tapped to be Trump’s running mate. During an interview with David Axelrod released Thursday, Crenshaw voiced his own rebuke to the vice presidential candidate. 

Crenshaw questioned whether someone who once called Trump Hitler should be the GOP leader’s vice president. The comment was in reference to a 2016 text Vance sent to a friend that read, “I go back and forth between thinking Trump is a cynical a**hole like Nixon who wouldn’t be that bad (and might even prove useful) or that he’s America’s Hitler.” Vance has since clarified that he’s changed his mind.

“It’s an interesting choice,” Crenshaw began before he referenced Vance’s controversial comment. “You know, Trump almost got assassinated recently, as we all know. I think it’s logical to say that rhetoric can lead to making crazy people even crazier. And calling Trump Hitler? What do you do with Hitler? You should kill him,” the Texan said on the Axe Files with David Axelrod.

“Wait a second; J.D. Vance calls him that,” Axelrod interrupted. 

“That’s my point,” Crenshaw retorted. “I don’t understand it because I think he meant it at the time. So I think that’s concerning.” 

After the former president survived an assassination attempt, some Republicans speculated that Trump-Hitler comparisons from public figures such as Vice President Kamala Harris, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA), comedian Kathy Griffin, and actor Robert DeNiro fueled the political violence. 

“Democrats and liberals in the media have called Trump a fascist. They’ve compared him to Hitler,” Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) said in a post to X following the assassination attempt. “This isn’t some unfortunate incident. This was an assassination attempt by a madman inspired by the rhetoric of the radical left.”

Some Republicans have also voiced concerns over Trump’s selection of Vance since he doesn’t provide much electoral benefit or balance to the ticket.

“He was the worst choice of all the options. It was so bad I didn’t even think it was possible,” one House Republican told the Hill. “Anti-Ukraine, more of a populist. He adds nothing to the Trump ticket. He energizes the same people that love Trump.”

Conservative commentator Tomi Lahren also called the pick a “bad move,” warning that his past comments, particularly calling some in the Democratic Party “childless cat ladies,” will alienate suburban women.

Trump and other Republicans, however, have remained steadfast in their support of Vance on the ticket.

When asked if he would pick Vance again now that Harris has become the likely Democratic nominee, Trump said “No, I would do the same thing. He’s doing really well. He’s really caught on.”