Vice President J.D. Vance’s three young children were a delight to see at inaugural events yesterday. More than charm, though, they are a glimpse into what is to come in everyday life.
The Vances offer hope in just what they are: a small, seemingly happy family. Viewers, accustomed to norms of individualism and data that say young people are not marrying, see a model — for those unmarried, that family life is both possible and enjoyable, and for the married, representation of what matters most to them. Family promotion has been hardly a priority in recent years, especially the past four, and President Donald Trump’s incoming administration aims to flip the script.
That is the face value of seeing family life on the center stage, and it is why optics matter. But even in their fidgeting and boredom, Vance’s children show the optimism contained within Trump’s victory: People will be able to take a step back from the nervousness and doubt of former President Joe Biden’s tenure.
When he was not fickle, he was feeble. Those traits combined into a presidency that generated distrust and tension across the country. With Biden at the helm for the past four years, people have had little reprieve from the lies, chaos, and failures that accompany him. Add to that the fact that, given Biden’s cognitive decline, it is unclear who was doing the job for him. Then came election season, at some times unbelievable and others nail-biting. Campaigning was largely uncivil, and pressure on voters was high.
Before Biden, too, Trump’s first round as president was chaotic, albeit in a different sense. Now, with an unending list of connections and trustworthy staff at all levels, Trump’s second presidency should be a stark opposite.
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Trump has already issued several executive orders, some great and some less so. The focal point, though, is his authoritative action: There is a clear-cut chain of command, and there has been real progress. Perhaps that is a standard for the first few days of a presidency. But Trump as Trump, there is no reason to think it will not continue for a long while.
For our part, there is a chance to sit back and let the new administration guide the country. There is freedom in the detached boredom Vance’s children displayed, and there is a small place for it in the life of the average person.