Donald Trump chooses senator JD Vance as running mate, as he is officially nominated as Republican candidate

15 July 2024, 20:12 | Updated: 16 July 2024, 07:39

Donald Trump has selected Ohio Senator JD Vance as his Republican running mate and would-be vice president.

The former president made the announcement as Republican delegates rubber-stamped his nomination for president at the party's National Convention in Milwaukee.

Chants of "JD, JD, JD" rang out throughout the Republican convention following Trump's announcement ahead of him taking the stage for his first speech since the assassination attempt against him.

Mr Vance, 39, gained considerable attention after the publication of his memoir Hillbilly Elegy, which tells of his upbringing in a blue-collar family and it affected his politics and worldview.

Writing on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said: "J.D. 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."

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Mr Vance is a US Marines veteran who is considered to align with Trump's populist mindset and palatable to the former president's MAGA base.

He previously called himself a "never Trumper" and described the former president as “reprehensible” and “cultural heroin”. He also once referred to Trump as "America's Hitler".

He swiftly altered his stance to become one of his most reliable supporters, appearing on broadcasts to defend him amid the former president's controversial moments.

The senator also supported Trump at his New York hush money trial and was highly vocal following the assassination attempt on Trump.

Mr Vance won Trump's backing in his 2022 Senate race, where the former president endorsed him over a crowded field. Trump's support is considered to have carried him to the Senate.

He is a political newcomer who only entered the Senate last year but has become popular within Republican ranks.

Trump is considered to have chosen a grass-roots candidate over other establishment options, but is touted to be able to connect with white, working-class voters who helped carryover swing states to the Trump-Pence campaign in 2016.

Florida Senator Marco Rubio and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum had been touted as possible choices for running-mate.

Mr Vance's selection as the Republican running mate will trust him to the front of the queue to position himself as his party's presidential nominee in 2028.

Trump's choice of Vance was criticised by Joe Biden, Mr Trump's likely future opponent in November.

A statement from his campaign read: "This is someone who supports banning abortion nationwide while criticising exceptions for rape and incest survivors; railed against the Affordable Care Act, including its protections for millions with pre-existing conditions; and has admitted he wouldn’t have certified the free and fair election in 2020.

"Billionaires and corporations are literally rooting for JD Vance: they know he and Trump will cut their taxes and send prices skyrocketing for everyone else."

Biden himself called Vance "a clone of Trump on the issues".