
Former President Donald Trump has selected Ohio Senator JD Vance, a freshman, as his running mate in his quest to return to the White House. This decision concludes months of speculation about his choice for vice president.
Insiders within Trump’s circle had suggested that the 78-year-old would prioritize loyalty in his selection, opting for someone who would complement his assertive personality without outshining him, help raise funds, and be prepared to serve.
The announcement coincides with the opening day of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and follows a recent incident where Trump was shot in the ear at a rally in Pennsylvania. The shooter, 20-year-old Thomas Crooks, narrowly missed Trump’s head but fatally wounded another attendee.
Throughout his campaign, Trump hinted at his VP pick without revealing any specific details.
The unpredictable former president praised a variety of candidates over the months, keeping many close allies in suspense until the final moment.
Hints emerged in February when Trump mentioned during a Fox News town hall that he was considering several options, including Senator Tim Scott (R-SC), former Representative Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii), South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, Representative Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
Most of the potential candidates expressed willingness to take on the role, except for DeSantis, who stated he would not be “doing that” shortly after Trump’s announcement, according to audio obtained by The Post.
As the campaign progressed, new contenders surfaced while others were eliminated from consideration.
Sources close to the Trump campaign informed The Post that Noem damaged her prospects by discussing the killing of her dog in her memoir. Ramaswamy was also ruled out early in the race, and more recently, insiders indicated that Scott had fallen in the rankings.
In the week leading up to Trump’s announcement, sources suggested that North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum or Senator JD Vance (R-OH) were the most likely choices.
Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) remained a contender but was seen as having a slimmer chance.
These candidates had shown strong support for Trump, campaigning for him nationwide and participating in rallies and debates against President Biden.
Trump’s team consistently emphasized the wide range of candidates being considered, including some not widely covered by the media.
Representative Elise Stefanik of upstate New York, who had steadfastly supported Trump during his re-election campaign and legal battles, also generated speculation about her interest in the VP slot. She campaigned for Trump in New Hampshire and expressed that she would be “honored” to be his running mate.
Trump supporters in early-voting states expressed openness to a variety of options and trusted Trump to make the final decision.
Additional names floated by voters included media personality Tucker Carlson, 2016 presidential candidate Ben Carson, the Daily Wire’s Candace Owens, Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake, and Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Trump’s former press secretary and current Arkansas governor.
Trump’s vice presidential pick might face off against Vice President Kamala Harris in a debate, pending agreement on a host network.
Biden’s team prefers CBS News, while Trump’s campaign has favored Fox News for the VP debate.
The former president has downplayed the impact of his VP choice on the polls, telling Fox News in January that “it’s never really had that much of an effect on an election.”
However, given concerns about his age — though less pronounced than those regarding Biden — a younger running mate might reassure some voters.
{Matzav.com}
Didn’t JD Vance compare Trump to Hitler back in 2016 when he was a Never Trumper?
His wife was even worse. Apparently they did tshuva m’ahava.
Hatzlacha raba