Former US President Donald Trump has picked his running mate JD Vance, the young Ohio Senator and author of a best selling book, “Hillbilly Elegy” based on his experience of rural poverty, with an aim to win blue-collar voters across the swing states of the industrial Midwest.
The announcement was made on Trump’s Social media platform at the beginning of the four-day Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where the party’s presidential ticket will be nominated.
Trump in his statement said, “after lengthy deliberation and thought”, and considering the talent of others in the party, I have decided that Vance is best suited to become the Vice President of the United States.
James David Vance is deeply popular amongst Trump camp and his selection could increase the likelihood of Trump supporters to come out and vote for him on November 5. Interestingly, Vance once described himself as a “never Trumper” in the past.
Trump’s announcement of Vance as the Vice Presidential candidate ended months of speculation with less than four months remaining until November’s election.
Vance has become one of Trump’s most passionate supporters and one of his most successful mouthpieces when it came to immigration, trade, and foreign policy. He has been actively mentoring and supporting a newer wave of national conservatives.
Trump’s announcement has resulted into a swift rise for 39-year-old JD Vance, who was elected to the Senate for the first time two years ago.
If elected, Vance will be the third youngest vice president in the history of America. In 1857, John Breckinridge became VP at the age of 36, and in 1953, Richard Nixon got elected as Dwight Eisenhower when he was 40 years and 11 days old.
