Although we all knew it would happen, nobody was thinking about who Donald Trump’s vice presidential running mate was going to be in the immediate aftermath following the first attempted assassination of him on July 13th.
He would need to make the change soon, as the Republican National Convention is the next week.
Many names had been bandied about ahead of Trump’s eventual announcement, including Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem.
On Day One of RNC, former President Obama announced through his Truth Social page that Sen. JD Vance, R-OH, was his VP choice. From that point on, many people outside of Ohio, who didn’t know Vance, began to learn more about him, asking about his background and what he could potentially bring to a nationwide ticket – and the country if he were elected.
After his election win, I confess that I did not follow Vance very closely. I watched him run a near-flawless Senate campaign in 2022 against Rep. Tim Ryan. It’s because I have learned to not expect too much from first-term politicians, at least in the first year. They are still learning the ropes and getting to know their opponents.
What I saw from him impressed me, however: his willingness and ability to be tough with Merrick Garland, Attorney General, over DOJ nominees as a response to their lawfare tactic against Trump; his introduction of a federal mask mandate ban; and his bill punishing sanctuary cities for undermining border security are all highlights of his first two Senate years.
Vance’s handling of himself after becoming Trump’s running-mate has impressed me a lot.
He has a seriousness and stature about him, which says “I am here and I mean to do business,” yet he is not afraid of being charmingly self-deprecating on occasion. He is also not afraid to fight, and he comes prepared with receipts that he can use as a weapon when challenged.
Tim Walz is not a fan of the media. He has called them out on occasion, but it’s usually not because they are questioning him. It’s because they don’t question enough the Democratic ticket consisting of VP Kamalah Harris and the Minnesota Governor. Tim Walz.
Vance is not afraid to answer questions or explain his position, but he expects more from the industry which is supposed to hold powerful people accountable but does so little as long as they have a (D).
Vance’s statement Monday on the second attempted assassination of Trump was one of the strongest things I have read from any politician in a very long time. It confirmed to me that, in just two months, Vance, Trump’s choice for veep, has proven his worth, proving himself in a short time, unlike Walz or many other VP choices in previous presidential election campaigns.
Trump and Vance both have downplayed in the past (relatively recently) the importance of the running mate a candidate chooses. Joe Biden’s presidency showed us that vice-presidential picks are important and can have a significant impact on the future – and sometimes sooner than expected, like in the case of Harris.
I will not make any predictions about the outcome of the November elections. If Trump and Vance are elected, this will not only be good news for Republicans heading into 2028 but also for the United States for the next 4 years. Not just because Trump could make America great again, but also because Vance could make the vice presidency great -and respectable again.
