Donald Trump has picked Ohio senator J.D. Vance as his running mate, choosing a grassroots favorite ahead of more seasoned political operators.
The former president left it until the last possible moment, using all his showman skills to leave the world guessing, before opting for 39-year-old Vance after the Republican National Convention had already begun in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Vance swept to national attention when he published his bestselling memoir ‘Hillbilly Elegy,’ in 2016, the year Trump was elected president.
He has been a senator for less than two years but has established himself as one of the fiercest defenders of Trump’s ‘Make America Great Again’ agenda, especially when it comes to foreign policy, trade and immigration.
The former venture capitalist and U.S. Marine had initially been critical of Trump.
Senator J.D. Vance has been picked by Donald Trump as his running mate
Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, right, points toward Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally, March 16, 2024, in Vandalia, Ohio
Trump made the announcement on Truth Social with the statement: ‘After lengthy deliberation and thought, and considering the tremendous talents of many others, I have decided that the person best suited to assume the position of Vice President of the United States is Senator J.D. Vance of the Great State of Ohio. J.D. honorably served our Country in the Marine Corps, graduated from Ohio State University in two years, Summa Cum Laude, and is a Yale Law School Graduate, where he was Editor of The Yale Law Journal, and President of the Yale Law Veterans Association. J.D.’s book, “Hillbilly Elegy,” became a Major Best Seller and Movie, as it championed the hardworking men and women of our Country. J.D. has had a very successful business career in Technology and Finance, and now, during the Campaign, will be strongly focused on the people he fought so brilliantly for, the American Workers and Farmers in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Minnesota, and far beyond.’
He didn’t vote for Trump in 2016 and around that time tweeted: ‘My god what an idiot.’
But he has since become personally close with the former president, and particularly with his son Donald Trump Jr.
Last week, Don Jr. told DailyMail.com: ‘You make a lot of acquaintances in politics, but J.D. is a great and loyal guy who has become a genuine friend.
Donald Trump revealed Vance as his pick with a statement on Truth Social on Monday afternoon
J.D. Vance and his wife Usha Vance wave to supporters after his winning his primary race in Ohio in 2022
‘His entire life story is the embodiment of the American dream, but he never forgets where he came from.’
Vance will be now expected to enthuse Trump’s base and also inject some millennial energy into the race.
His blue-collar Ohio roots will could also help beat President Joe Biden in his so-called ‘blue wall’ states of Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Michigan.
Insiders said the two other ‘finalists’ were Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida and Gov. Doug Burgum of North Dakota.
Last week betting markets declared Vance the clear frontrunner even as a string of attack pieces surfaced in the media.
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