Trump announces former critic JD Vance as his running mate

Former president Donald Trump has announced Senator JD Vance — who came to prominence as a critic of Trump’s but emerged as an outspoken MAGA warrior — as his running mate.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump called Vance “the person best suited to assume the position of Vice President of the United States” after what he described as “lengthy deliberation and thought, and considering the tremendous talents of many others.”

He said the Ohio senator “has had a very successful business career in Technology and Finance, and now, during the Campaign, 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.”

The Independent reported earlier Monday that Trump had likely settled on Vance as his running mate, “I have always thought [Vance] would be the pick. He’s close to [Donald Trump Jr] and Trump likes him,” one campaign source said. “He will be good.”

Trump announced his new running mate on the first day of the Republican National Convention, following a dramatic weekend during which he survived an assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania. A spectator at the Trump rally was killed and another left critically injured during the shooting; Trump was left bloodied, with an injury to his ear. The suspect, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, was also killed by Secret Service.

The shooting cast a shadow over the RNC and the running mate announcement today. On Sunday, President Biden addressed the nation, describing violence toward politicians as “sick” and calling for a dialing-down of harsh rhetoric on both sides.

JD Vance, a native of the former swing state of Ohio, came to prominence with the