The Rise and Fall of JD Vance’s Unexpected Friendship

J.D. Vance, the author of “Hillbilly Elegy,” had a close friendship with a transgender classmate named Sofia Nelson during their time at Yale Law School. Despite their differing political views, the two forged a strong bond that lasted more than a decade. However, their friendship appeared to take a turn for the worse when Mr. Vance’s political and personal beliefs began to shift.

In 2016, when Vance’s book was published, he emailed Nelson apologizing for identifying them as lesbian in the book instead of acknowledging their identity as transgender. Nelson responded with gratitude, appreciating Vance’s acknowledgement of the error, and even requested a signed copy of the book.

Nelson has since shared with The New York Times about 90 emails and text messages the two friends exchanged between 2014 and 2017. The messages offer insight into the close relationship they once shared and the evolution of Vance’s views over time.

Now that Vance has pursued a political career and is running for vice president, the dynamics of his friendship with Nelson have been called into question. Their story highlights the complexities of maintaining relationships across political and personal differences, and the impact that changing beliefs can have on long-term relationships.

It’s a reminder that even the strongest friendships can be tested by changing circumstances and diverging paths. The story of JD Vance and Sofia Nelson serves as a cautionary tale about the fragility of human relationships and the importance of communication and understanding in navigating life’s complexities.