Donald Trump has chosen Ohio Senator JD Vance as his running mate, picking a grassroots favourite over more experienced political operatives.
The former president left it to the last possible moment, using all his showmanship to keep the world in suspense, before opting for Vance, 39, after the Republican National Convention had already begun in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Vance rose 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 most fervent defenders of Trump’s “Make America Great Again” agenda, especially on foreign policy, trade and immigration.
The former venture capitalist and US Marine had initially criticized Trump.
Senator JD Vance has been chosen by Donald Trump as his running mate
Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, right, points to Republican presidential nominee 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 long deliberation and reflection, and considering the tremendous talents of many others, I have decided that the most suitable person to assume the office of Vice President of the United States is Senator J.D. Vance from the Great State of Ohio. J.D. served our Country honorably in the Marine Corps, graduated from Ohio State University in two years, Summa Cum Laude, and is a graduate of Yale Law School, 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 huge best-seller and movie as he championed the working men and women of our Country. JD has had a very successful business career in Technology and Finance, and now during the Campaign he will be focusing heavily on the people he fought so brilliantly for, the American Workers and Farmers in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Minnesota and far beyond.’
He did not vote for Trump in 2016, tweeting at the time: “Oh my God, what an idiot.”
But he has since become personally close to the former president, and particularly his son Donald Trump Jr.
Last week, Don Jr told DailyMail.com: ‘You make a lot of friends in politics but JD is a great, loyal guy who has become a real friend.
Donald Trump revealed Vance as his nominee with a statement on Truth Social on Monday afternoon
‘His entire life story is the embodiment of the American dream, but he never forgets where he comes from.’
Vance is now expected to excite Trump’s base and also inject some millennial energy into the race.
His blue-collar Ohio roots could also help him defeat President Joe Biden in the so-called “blue wall” states of Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Michigan.
Sources familiar with the matter said the other two “finalists” were Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida and Gov. Doug Burgum of North Dakota.
Last week, betting markets declared Vance the clear favorite, even as a series of attack articles emerged in the media.
This is breaking news
