MILWAUKEE—Former President Donald Trump announced on July 15 that Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) will be his running mate, ending months of speculation.
The former president made the announcement shortly before delegates at the Republican National Convention were scheduled to nominate him and his choice for vice president to represent the GOP in the 2024 presidential election.
“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,” former President Trump wrote in a statement on Truth Social.
Delegates at the 2024 Republican National Convention wait for J.D. Vance to arrive after being picked as former President and Republican candidate Donald J. Trump's running mate in Milwaukee on July 15, 2024. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times)
“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.”
Former President Trump revealed his decision less than two days after surviving an assassination attempt that underscored the importance of the vice president. He has cloaked his vice presidential choice in secrecy while floating “teasers” for months.
Besides being ready to serve if the presidential candidate were unable to fulfill his duties for any reason, Mr. Vance could sway some voters to the Trump–Vance ticket.
Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) speaks to reporters in the spin room following the CNN Presidential Debate in Atlanta on June 27, 2024. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
The Biden campaign issued a statement criticizing the selection of Mr. Vance.
“Donald Trump picked J.D. Vance as his running mate because Vance will do what Mike Pence wouldn’t on January 6: bend over backwards to enable Trump and his extreme MAGA agenda, even if it means breaking the law and no matter the harm to the American people,” the statement reads.
Vice President Kamala Harris is the running mate for President Joe Biden. She will face Mr. Vance in a vice presidential debate on July 23 or Aug. 13.
Mr. Vance, 39, ascended from Appalachian roots and obtained an Ivy League education. He won his 2022 election in Ohio after a boost from a Trump endorsement.
The endorsement was controversial because Mr. Vance had excoriated then-presidential candidate Trump in 2016. But Mr. Vance said he grew to respect the Trump presidency.
“He never bent to the mob, [making him] the best president of my lifetime,” Mr. Vance said at the time of the 2022 endorsement.
J.D. Vance, Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Ohio, shakes hands with former President Donald Trump during a rally in Delaware, Ohio, on April 23, 2022. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Also in Mr. Vance’s favor is his friendship with the former president’s son, Donald Trump Jr. The former president’s son says he also has a good relationship with Mr. Rubio and likes several of the vice presidential contenders.
While four possible finalists had risen to the top of a long list, analysts had held out the possibility of a surprise selection.
At least four finalists were Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), and Mr. Vance, along with North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.
However, politicos had conceded that it was possible that the 45th president could select a lesser-known, dark horse candidate, such as Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin or Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.).
Ivan Pentchoukov contributed to this report.
