Marion McKeone: JD Vance needs all his Machiavellian instincts to avoid becoming Trump's whipping boy

JD Vance is not a natural diplomat so he will be hard pushed to satisfy Donald Trump in the Iran negotiations and to keep on course for a 2028 nomination, writes Marion McKeone

JD Vance has a lot of ground to make up in the popularity stakes. Photo: AP/Paul Sancya

US vice president JD Vance has spent most of the past month studiously avoiding the cameras. 

The notorious self-promoter was poised to start a ‘likeability tour’ this summer, part of a calculated strategy to improve the public’s perception of him ahead of the 2028 primary season. If this seems like a long runway — the 2028 primaries don’t kick off until next summer — Vance has a lot of ground to make up in the popularity stakes.