(NewsNation) — Dr. Cornel West, an independent candidate for president, says that after years of criticizing former President Donald Trump, Sen. JD Vance has suddenly changed his tune.

“Vance has seemingly sold his soul to be subordinate to Trump’s lies and his crimes,” West told “NewsNation Prime.”

“It’s sad to see him give up on his claims of integrity and honesty and to find himself an extension of Trump’s mendacity and Trump’s criminality,” he added.

West’s assessment of Democratic vice presidential nominee, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, is not much kinder.

“Walz strikes me as a very decent man in a corrupt party. Now he’s got to somehow deal with the wickedness in high places like any other elected official.”

The former professor at Harvard and Princeton has been running for president as an independent. A recent Real Clear Politics national survey shows West with 1% support, equal to Green Party candidate Jill Stein and far behind the 9% support for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The RCP poll taken between July 22 and August 7 ranked both Vice President Kamala Harris and Trump with the support of 45% of voters.

Despite the polling, West says he’s still in the race and expects his stock to rise as the U.S. teeters on the brink of war with Russia or China, or being involved in an escalating Middle East conflict.

“If both candidates are still facilitating genocide, denying genocide, then you still have very little moral authority,” he said.

“The old stirrings are still there, so I’m very much in this election. I’m very much into telling the truth and seeking justice.”