Trump announces JD Vance as running mate at Republican National Convention
Former US president Donald Trump announced JD Vance as his vice-presidential choice at the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee on Monday.
Just days after an assassination attempt on Trump's life, he told crowds at the RNC that 39-year-old Vance was "the person best suited to assume the position of vice president of the United States". Vance, a junior senator from Ohio, is in his first term as a senator.
Critic turned supporter
While Vance was a Trump critic in the past, having referred to him as "America's Hitler" and saying “I find him reprehensible", he has since found favour with the former president by supporting his unfounded claims that the 2020 election was "stolen". Vance repeatedly said the election was not fair and that there were “certainly people voting illegally on a large-scale basis".
Previously tense exchanges between the two switched to mutual endorsement in interviews and on social media. Vance has gone so far as to blame current president Joe Biden's political agenda for the assassination attempt that took place on Saturday and pledge his support for Trump.
Biden's re-election campaign immediately denounced Trump’s pick for running mate, calling Vance an enabler of the "extreme MAGA agenda".
If elected, Vance would be the second Catholic vice-president in US history, following Biden’s term in the position during Barack Obama’s presidency.
Trump also officially secured his spot as the Republican candidate for the 2024 elections. He has been the presumptive nominee for months, but the RNC votes from fellow delegates confirmed his role on Monday.
US senator JD Vance © PHOTO MANDEL NGAN / AFP
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