Former President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he has selected Sen. JD Vance of Ohio as his running mate, choosing a former critic who has become a steadfast ally. Vance, 39, is now the first millennial to join a major-party ticket amid concerns about the advanced age of America’s political leaders.
“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,” Trump posted on his Truth Social network as the Republican National Convention commenced in Milwaukee.
Vance gained national recognition with his 2016 memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy.” He was elected to the Senate in 2022 and has since become a staunch supporter of Trump’s “Make America Great Again” agenda, particularly on trade, foreign policy, and immigration. However, Vance is largely untested in national politics and joins the Trump ticket at a turbulent time.
An attempted assassination of Trump at a rally on Saturday has shaken the campaign, drawing attention to the nation’s heated political rhetoric and highlighting the importance of the vice-presidential role. Vance faced criticism following the shooting for a post on X suggesting President Joe Biden was to blame for the violence.
“The central premise of the Biden campaign is that President Donald Trump is an authoritarian fascist who must be stopped at all costs,” Vance wrote. “That rhetoric led directly to President Trump’s attempted assassination.”
Law enforcement has not yet specified a motivation for the shooting.