‘He Didn’t Know Me’: Trump Addresses JD Vance’s Attacks on Him in Joint Interview

Former President Donald Trump addressed the vehement criticism he once fielded from his running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R-OH), in a new interview on Fox News.

Before he was elected to the Senate as a relentless supporter of Trump, Vance was a fierce critic of the real estate mogul turned conservative firebrand. He compared Trump to opioids, called him “America’s Hitler,” and said he believed his sexual assault accusers. Vance quickly embraced Trump, however, as he mounted a campaign for the Senate as a Republican.

In an interview with Fox News host Jesse Watters that was taped on Saturday and aired on Monday, Trump explained why he selected Vance as his running mate — an explanation that addressed the criticism.

“We’ve always had a good chemistry,” Trump said. “And originally JD was probably not for me, but he didn’t know me. And then when we got to know each other he liked me, maybe more than anybody liked me. And he would stick up for me, and he would fight for the worker as much as I fight for the worker.”

“We just had an automatic chemistry,” Trump said. “And I actually endorsed him in Ohio, for the Senate. And he ended up winning against a very tough field. Very tough field.”

Watch above, via Fox News.