JD Vance received a thunderous standing ovation from MAGA supporters who packed the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Saturday as he made his campaign debut as Donald Trump’s running mate.
He used his appearance to introduce himself to Republican voters less than four months before Election Day and launch an attack on his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris.
“I’m glad President Trump’s running mate has invited me to join the campaign,” Vance said as he began his remarks.
“There’s bad news, actually. Vice President Kamala Harris doesn’t like me,” he said, launching into his own line of attacks that can be expected in the coming months between now and Election Day.
JD Vance appears at a Trump rally for the first time as the former president’s running mate
Vance accused Harris of claiming she has “no loyalty” to the country before touting her time in the Marine Corps. He also criticized her work in the Biden administration on the border.
“She served as border czar during the biggest disaster we’ve ever had in this country,” he said. “Let’s get President Trump back there, close this border, and bring back some common sense of security in this country,” he said.
The event in Grand Rapids, Michigan, was Vance’s first campaign rally since joining the Republican ticket. The Ohio senator spoke just hours before Trump also took the stage.
“We’ve never had an election where there’s four years of one candidate and four years of the other, and who could argue with the idea that four and a half years of President Trump has been a lot better than four years of Joe Biden?” Vance said.
Vance later emerged again to introduce Trump. Before the event, two planes were seen at the airport, including one carrying Vance to his campaign trail.
JD Vance used his appearance in Grand Rapids to take a swipe at Vice President Kamala Harris and share some of his background as he works to introduce himself to Republican voters.
Trump supporters wait in line to enter Van Andel Arena. Security was heightened for Trump’s rally in Grand Rapids. It was his first campaign rally since the shooting in Pennsylvania a week earlier.
JD Vance delivers his acceptance speech for the Republican vice presidential nomination in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on July 17. Trump named him as his running mate two days earlier.
Trump named the conservative Ohio senator, veteran and best-selling author as his running mate Monday afternoon during the Republican National Convention after months of speculation about who he would pick as his No. 2.
The former Trump critic turned ardent supporter officially accepted the Republican vice presidential nomination at the convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Wednesday night.
Now he’s working to reach out to Trump supporters and independent voters less than four months before Election Day.
Some Republican officials told DailyMail.com they see the 39-year-old MAGA front-runner as a good choice to appeal to young conservatives and as someone who could help the ticket erode the so-called blue wall in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin.
JD Vance and his wife Usha joined Donald Trump and former first lady Melania onstage at the end of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on July 18.
But many Trump supporters in Grand Rapids were still getting to know the Ohio native and former venture capitalist who was elected to the Senate less than two years ago.
Those who knew him were mostly familiar with his book ‘Hillbilly Elegy’ or had seen the 2020 Ron Howard film based on it with the same name.
“I didn’t know at first until he gave his speech and I heard a little bit about it,” said Denise Cook, who drove to Grand Rapids from Portage, Indiana.
“I had already seen Hillbilly Elegy and thought he was pretty young, but after watching his speech, he spoke very eloquently,” she said, pointing to his acceptance speech at the convention on Wednesday.
Gregory McPherson of Traverse City, MI was also familiar with Vance because of his book.
“I think it’s perfect,” she said of Trump’s choice. “I’ve followed JD Vance since his book came out and I think he’s the strong American, who believes in America and the strength of what we can all be together.”
Denise Bontembo of Battle Creek, Michigan, called Trump’s choice of Vance fantastic.
“I’m from Ohio, he’s from Ohio. I’m an Ohio State fan and I’m a Marine,” she explained.
“He’s young, that will revitalize the party,” he added.
JD Vance and his wife Usha on the convention floor after he was announced as Trump’s vice presidential nominee on July 15, 2024.
“I didn’t know him very well, but what I know about him I like,” said Ben Casarez. “I like the fact that he can probably keep going in four more years. I don’t think there’s anything they can find out about him, but we have to keep going with this Trump thing.”
“I think it’s very interesting. He wasn’t on my radar. I know he’s been talked about. I had my picks, but I’m happy with JD Vance,” said Lisa Donlin of Kalamazoo.
Before Trump’s rally in Michigan, the Biden campaign held a call in which Democrats criticized the former president and Ohio senator’s visit to the state.
“If there are two things we know about Michigan voters: One, they don’t like Buckeyes, and they don’t like politicians who want to take away their reproductive freedom, and JD Vance is both of those things,” said Michigan Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow, noting the senator’s anti-abortion record.
