If you’re staring at your screen wondering what is the name of the vice president, don’t feel bad. Politics moves fast. Like, "blink and you missed an entire administration" fast.
Right now, the 50th Vice President of the United States is JD Vance.
He took the oath of office on January 20, 2025, standing on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol. He’s the guy serving alongside President Donald Trump. If you still have "Kamala Harris" or "Mike Pence" stuck in your head, your mental software just needs a quick update. It happens to the best of us.
Honestly, Vance is a bit of a historical outlier. He’s the first Millennial to hold the office. He’s also the first former Marine to be a heartbeat away from the presidency.
What is the Name of the Vice President and Why Does it Keep Changing?
The short answer? Elections.
The 2024 election was a massive turning point. Donald Trump and JD Vance defeated the Democratic ticket of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. Because Harris was the sitting VP at the time, her name was everywhere for four years. Now, the brass plates at Number One Observatory Circle (that’s the VP's house, by the way) have been swapped out.
Vance didn't take the traditional path to the White House. He wasn't a career politician who spent thirty years climbing the greasy pole in D.C.
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Actually, most people first heard his name because of a book.
Hillbilly Elegy.
That memoir about growing up in the Rust Belt turned him into a household name long before he ever considered running for the Senate in Ohio. He went from being a venture capitalist in San Francisco to a Senator, and then, in what felt like a whirlwind, Trump’s running mate.
A Vice President of Firsts
When you look at what is the name of the vice president, you’re also looking at a shift in generations. Vance was born in 1984. Think about that for a second. He grew up with Oregon Trail and dial-up internet.
He’s significantly younger than most of the people he’s working with in the West Wing.
There’s also the military aspect. While we’ve had plenty of presidents who served, Vance’s time in the Marine Corps as a combat correspondent gives him a specific "boots-on-the-ground" reputation that his supporters love. He’s also the first vice president to have been a vocal critic of the man he now serves under—back in 2016, he wasn't exactly a fan of Trump.
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People change. Politics changes even faster.
What Does JD Vance Actually Do All Day?
A lot of people think the VP just sits around waiting for something to happen to the President. That’s mostly a Hollywood myth.
As of January 2026, Vance has been keeping a packed schedule. He’s been acting as a "Congressional Liaison," which is a fancy way of saying he spends a lot of time on Capitol Hill making sure the President's bills actually get passed.
He also has a very specific job: President of the Senate.
This isn't just a title. When the Senate is split 50-50 on a vote, JD Vance walks in and casts the tie-breaker. He’s already done this several times in 2025, including for some major cabinet appointments and a massive legislative package called the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" back in July.
Without him, the government would basically be stuck in a permanent traffic jam.
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Recent Headlines and the 2026 Landscape
If you’ve seen his name in the news lately, it’s probably because of his recent activity in the Midwest. Just this month—January 2026—Vance has been front and center addressing issues in Minneapolis and speaking at the March for Life in D.C.
He’s also taken on a weirdly specific role as the Finance Chair of the Republican National Committee.
This is actually a bit of a "first" too. Usually, sitting VPs don't hold official fundraising titles like that, but Vance is leaning into the "powerful VP" model, similar to how Dick Cheney operated in the early 2000s.
Common Misconceptions About the Vice Presidency
Sometimes the question isn't just "who is it?" but "what happened to the last one?"
- Wait, isn't it Tim Walz? No. Tim Walz was the Governor of Minnesota and the Democratic VP nominee in 2024. He lost the election and went back to being Governor.
- Is Kamala Harris still involved? Not in the executive branch. Once Vance was sworn in, Harris became a private citizen, though she remains a major figure in the Democratic party.
- Can the VP be fired? Nope. The President can’t just fire the VP like a Cabinet secretary. They’re elected together.
Actionable Steps for Staying Updated
If you want to make sure you never have to Google "what is the name of the vice president" again, here are a few ways to keep the info fresh:
- Follow the Official Channels: The handle @VP on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram always belongs to the current officeholder. It transfers automatically on Inauguration Day.
- Check the Tie-Breakers: Keep an eye on Senate vote tallies. If you see a "51-50" result, it usually means the VP was in the building doing his job.
- Look at the "Veep" House: News regarding Number One Observatory Circle is a surefire way to see what the VP's family is up to.
Understanding who holds the second-highest office in the land is about more than just a name. It’s about knowing who is casting the deciding votes on your taxes, your healthcare, and the country's foreign policy. As of right now, that person is JD Vance.