Mitch Daniels rebukes JD Vance over free-market retreat
Daniels said the Republican Party’s evolution under Trump could create an opening for a party to champion economic freedom.
Former Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels has criticized Vice President JD Vance for moving away from the party's traditional free-market economics. Daniels believes Vance's shift could create an opportunity for a "pro-freedom" movement within the Republican Party. Daniels told POLITICO, "I think what Vance is saying is that there are aspects to the free market which can be disruptive of culture and tradition.
It's the only mechanism, in my view, for preserving the American dream, and that's the most important element of our culture." Vance has been accused of deviating from free-market principles and embracing a larger government role in shaping the economy, particularly in his defense of the Trump administration's tariffs. Daniels argues that the Republican Party's shift under Trump has opened the door for a pro-freedom party that champions economic freedom and individual autonomy.
Daniels, who recently released his book "Impatience Is a Virtue," defended his stance on another potential 2028 candidate, Democratic Mayor Pete Buttigieg.
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