Trump Weighed Pros and Cons of His V.P. Selection Until Last Minute

Donald J. Trump’s decision to name Senator J.D. Vance as his running mate on Monday capped a monthslong selection process that stretched until the virtual last minute — he didn’t settle on his pick until the final 24 hours before announcing it, according to three people familiar with his deliberations.

Even as the former president and his team flew Sunday on his private plane from Bedminster, N.J., to Milwaukee, Mr. Trump peppered aides and family members about the pros and cons of his selection, these people said.

His wife, Melania Trump, had not previously played a key role in the process, but after the attempted assassination of Mr. Trump on Saturday in Pennsylvania, she became more involved, two of the people said. She had urged her husband to tone down the aggressive rhetoric and to choose a running mate who would help him do that.

But Mr. Trump picked Mr. Vance, who is viewed as a more combative and ideological choice than his two other finalists, Senator Marco Rubio of Florida and Gov. Doug Burgum of North Dakota.

One person close to Mr. Trump said the former president seemed newly focused on his decision after the shooting and was clearly ready to get on with the selection.

A Trump campaign spokesman did not return requests for comment.

Before the rally on Saturday, Mr. Trump spoke with his three finalists. Two people said those conversations were scheduled after the contenders reached out to make individual pitches. Mr. Vance and Mr. Rubio met with the former president at Mar-a-Lago; Mr. Burgum talked to Mr. Trump by phone.