JD Vance, Trump’s pick for vice president, will introduce himself to a national audience at the RNC
MILWAUKEE — MILWAUKEE (AP) — Donald Trump ‘s running mate JD Vance will introduce himself to a national audience on Wednesday when he Republican National Convention.
The Ohio senator’s keynote address will be his first as the Republican vice presidential nominee. He is a relatively unknown political figure who has changed rapidly in recent years from a fierce critic of Trump to an aggressive defender.
Vance, 39, is positioned to become the next potential leader of the former president’s political movement, which has reshaped the Republican Party and shattered many long-standing political norms. The first millennial to join a major party ticket, he enters the race as questions about the ages of the men at the top of the tickets — Trump, 78, and President Joe Biden, 81 — rank high on voters’ lists of concerns.
Trump, as the presidential candidate, is expected to speak on Thursday, the final night of the convention.
Vance is expected to delve into his biography, as someone who grew up in poor Kentucky and Ohio and became a Marine, Ivy League graduate, businessman and best-selling author with his memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy.” The book exploring his working-class roots made him a national name when it was published in 2016 and was seen as a window into some of the cultural forces that brought Trump to the White House.
Vance, however, was a harsh critic of Trump at the time. In interviews, he called him “damaging” and someone who “is leading the white working class to a very dark place.” He once even called him “America’s Hitler.”
He grew to like Trump over the years, especially when he attempted to run for U.S. Senate in 2022. Vance won Trump’s support, helping him secure the party’s nomination for the Ohio Senate seat.
Vance has emerged as one of Trump’s most aggressive defenders as the former president heads into his third presidential campaign, clashing with reporters, campaigning for him and appearing with the candidate at his trial in New York.
In his first interview after accepting Trump’s offer to join the ticket, Vance attempted to explain his metamorphosis. Vance said in an interview with Fox News Channel on Monday that Trump was a great president and had changed his mind.
“I think he changed the minds of many Americans because he brought peace and prosperity back,” Vance said.
Donald Trump Jr., the former president’s son and a close friend of Vance, is also scheduled to speak Wednesday, a source said. He spoke on condition of anonymity because the official speaking schedule has not yet been released.
In addition to Vance’s primetime speech, the Republican Party wants to focus on the theme of America’s global strength.
Republicans argue that the country has become a “global laughingstock” under Biden’s administration and are expected to make a case Wednesday on their theme of “making America strong again.” That is expected to include Trump’s “America First” foreign policy, which has redefined relations with some allies and adversaries.
Democrats have sharply criticized Trump and Vance for questioning US support for Ukraine as a defense against the Russian invasion.