trump-picks-jd-vance-as-vp-running-mate

On Monday, former US President Donald Trump announced JD Vance, a Republican senator from Ohio, as his choice for vice president. Vance, 39, previously criticised Trump but has now become one of his most loyal supporters.

 

The announcement was made on Trump's Truth Social media platform at the beginning of the four-day Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where the party will choose its presidential candidate.

 

"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 JD Vance of the Great State of Ohio," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

 

The former president praised Vance's achievements, citing his resume, including his service in the Marine Corps, his degree from Yale Law School and his bestselling memoir "Hillbilly Elegy".

 

The selection of JD Vance could potentially boost voter turnout for the November 5 presidential election among Trump supporters. The 39-year-old, who hails from Ohio, has a strong following within the Republican candidate's base.

 

JD Vance was born on August 2, 1984, in Middletown, Ohio. He was primarily raised by his grandparents, with a special bond with his grandmother, lovingly referred to as "Mamaw." After serving in the Iraq War as a member of the US Marine Corps, he pursued higher education at Ohio State University and eventually earned his law degree from Yale Law School.

 

Vance rose to prominence with the release of his memoir, "Hillbilly Elegy," in 2016, which achieved bestseller status and was later adapted into a Netflix film. The book delves into his upbringing in Middletown, Ohio, and delves into the cultural and economic struggles encountered by the white working class in the Rust Belt region.

 

Notably, Vance had voiced his disapproval of Trump during his victorious 2016 presidential bid, labelling him as "harmful" and "despicable". He had famously likened Trump to "America's Hitler". He took jabs at Trump, describing him as "cultural heroin" and suggesting that the former president "could be a cynical a**hole."

 

Later, Vance discussed how the previous president had convinced him during his initial term in the White House.

 

Vance initiated his political journey in 2021 by entering the race for the US Senate seat in Ohio. With Trump's endorsement, he secured the Republican nomination and subsequently triumphed over Democratic nominee Tim Ryan in the general election. He took office on January 3, 2023.

 

During his tenure as a senator, Vance has strongly criticized the ongoing assistance to war-affected Ukraine in the Senate, a position that has put him at odds with many Republican legislative leaders.