5 Bold Reasons Why Trump’s Pick of J.D. Vance Will Energize the GOP

Trump Selects Sen. J.D. Vance as Running Mate for Upcoming Republican National Convention

Former President Donald Trump has chosen Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio as his running mate for the upcoming Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. Vance, a onetime critic who became a loyal ally and is now the first millennial to join a major-party ticket at a time of deep concern about the advanced age of America’s political leaders, was chosen after lengthy deliberation and thought. Vance rose to national fame with the 2016 publication of his memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy.” He was elected to the Senate in 2022 and has become one of the staunchest champions of the former president’s “Make America Great Again” agenda, particularly on trade, foreign policy, and immigration.

Sen. J.D. Vance Gains National Prominence with “Hillbilly Elegy” and MAGA Agenda Advocacy

Vance faced criticism in the wake of the shooting for a post on X that suggested President Joe Biden was to blame for the violence. Law enforcement has not yet specified a motivation for the shooting. The pick is sure to energize Trump’s loyal base, as Vance has become a fixture on the conservative media circuit and frequently spars with reporters on Capitol Hill, helping establish him as the kind of leader who could carry Trump’s mantle into the future, beginning with the next presidential election in 2028. The pick also means that two white men will now lead the Republican ticket at a time when Trump has sought to make inroads with black and Latino voters.

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Trump and Vance: Chemistry and Strategic Focus on Key Midwestern States for Upcoming Election

In his post announcing his pick, Trump said Vance “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.” Several of those Midwestern states are expected to play a critical role in November’s election. Vance also had another advantage: his chemistry with Trump. Personal relationships are extremely important to the former president and he and Vance have developed a strong rapport, speaking on the phone regularly. Trump formally offered Vance the job in a phone call that came about 20 minutes before his Truth Social post, according to a person familiar with the call who requested anonymity to share details of the private conversation.

Vance’s fame grew in tandem with Trump’s unlikely rise from a reality television star to Republican presidential nominee and eventually president. During the early stages of Trump’s political career, Vance cast him as “a total fraud,” “a moral disaster,” and “America’s Hitler.” But like many Republicans who sought relevance in the Trump era, Vance eventually shifted his tone. He was rewarded for his turnaround during his bid for an open Senate seat in 2022, during which he landed Trump’s endorsement and rode it to victory in a crowded Republican primary and a general election hard fought by Democrats.

Vance Challenges Election Legitimacy and Legal Prosecutions, Reflecting Loyalty to Trump

Vance is now a Trump loyalist who has challenged the legitimacy of criminal prosecutions and civil verdicts against him and questions the results of the 2020 election. Many states adopted emergency measures four years ago to allow people to vote safely during the COVID-19 pandemic. His book, “A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis,” detailed life in Appalachian communities that drifted from a Democratic Party, which many residents found disconnected from their daily travails.