Ex US President Donald Trump has chosen Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, as his vice presidential running mate, bringing a once vehement critic to the forefront of his political legacy.
Vance, who turns 40 in August, stands in stark contrast to Trump, 78, and Biden, 81, NBC News reported.
He would be the third-youngest vice president in history, after only John Breckenridge (36 years old when he took office in 1857) and Richard Nixon (40 years and 11 days in 1953). Vance’s decision comes just days after Trump escaped an assassination attempt on Saturday, emphasizing the importance of the vice presidential pick.
Vance, a Marine Corps veteran of the Iraq War, adds military experience to the campaign, as well as right-wing populist ideas that align with Trump’s “America First” rhetoric and the “Make America Great Again” movement.
Vance has opposed US aid to Ukraine and has attempted to postpone the confirmation of Biden’s judicial nominations in response to Trump’s conviction on 34 felony counts in a New York state case in May.
Trump chose Vance following a search that began with at least a dozen potential running mates. In the last weeks, the field shrunk to include Gov. Doug Burgum of North Dakota and Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida.
Trump announced his decision in a post on his social media network Truth Social on Monday, just before the Republican National Convention began in Milwaukee, New York Times reported.
He stated that Vance was “the person best suited” as his probable vice president. He emphasized Vance’s service in the Marine Corps and his memoir, claiming that he was a champion for hardworking people, notably laborers and farmers in important swing states.
Trump’s selection came only days after he survived an assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania, emphasizing the need of choosing a running mate who could be Trump’s successor.
According to the FBI, the mastermind of the assassination attempt, whose motive remains unknown, acted alone and had no ideological affiliation. He was identified as Thomas Crooks, 20, from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, some 50 kilometers from Butler, where Trump’s campaign rally was being held.