Trump selects J.D. Vance for vice president

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Donald Trump, the Republican nominee for president in 2024, announced Monday on Truth Social that his vice presidential candidate will be Ohio senator J.D. Vance. Vance represents the new populist bent of the Republican Party championed by Trump’s “America First” movement and is thus a natural successor to the 45th president.

“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….” Trump wrote.

Vance was elected as Ohio’s junior senator in the 2022 midterm elections and before that was a well-known author with the bestselling book Hillbilly Elegy about his humble upbringing in rural Appalachia. The book was adapted into a Netflix movie. Vance wrote about the desperation of these underserved areas, which have been wracked by job loss and drug addiction.

Vance converted to Catholicism in 2019 and would be only the second Catholic in American history to serve as vice president. His selection as VP is a blow to the establishment, neoconservative wing of the GOP and proof that Trump doesn’t want to hand the party back to them when he’s done.

A well-placed source tells The Spectator that Ohio governor Mike DeWine would replace Vance with State Senator Matt Dolan.

Speculation swirled around Vance, particularly earlier in the day when he was seen being picked up by a large motorcade at his home in Ohio. Trump previously narrowed his finalists down to Vance, Florida senator Marco Rubio and North Dakota governor Doug Burgum. Reports then surfaced that Rubio and Burgum had been told they were not selected. The former president teased that he would announce his vice presidential pick during the party’s annual convention early Monday evening at 3:36 p.m. Central Time but got ahead of schedule by making a surprise announcement on his own social media platform.

Vance’s name started to come up on the convention floor as the GOP went through the official nominating process. As state delegates announced giving their votes to Trump, some also cheered the former president’s new running mate.

The Trump family, including Eric Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Lara Trump and Tiffany Trump, arrived to give Trump the final numbers needed from Florida to make him the official party nominee.

Vance is expected to speak at the convention on Wednesday and Trump on Thursday.