CNN panelist argues ‘Hillbilly translator’ J.D Vance is actually the 'DEI hire'

Political strategist Ana Navarro thinks Republican attacks on Kamala Harris as a so-called “DEI hire,” are ironic given that party vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance rose to prominence by writing about his identity as an Appalachian descendent.

“You want to talk about DEI ? You came on and you were supposed to be the hillbilly translator which was something that was sorely lacking on national TV and in the movies,” Navarro said during a CNN panel discussion Monday. “We’re going to talk about hiring somebody because what they represent and the color of their skin and where they come from? Let's start with J.D. Vance.”

Vance first came into the public eye as the author of “Hillbilly elegy,” a best-selling coming-of-age memoir about his family in rural Kentucky (though Vance spent most of his childhood growing up in suburban Ohio). The novel was parlayed into a Netflix film, which Vance capitalized on with a successful Senate run in 2022.

Read also: How 'fake' J.D. Vance disguises his anti-worker views as economic populism

“It’s very funny when I hear J.D. Vance talk about Kamala Harris as a DEI hire, because I think he got a book deal, I think he got a TV contract, I think he got a move deal because he’s a DEI hire,” Navarro said during a brutal takedown.

Her comments come as controversies pile onto Donald Trump’s running mate, from old comments deriding Democratic leaders as ‘single cat ladies’ to newly shared emails showing Vance has flipped his opinion on issues since adopting a MAGA persona.

“I’m kind of marveling at the lack of vetting that seems to have gone on in the Trump campaign which had a ton of time to pick their vice president,” Navarro said. “I'm just amazed at all of the things that came out”

Watch the clip below or at this link.