JD Vance formally picked as Trump's vice-presidential nominee

Donald Trump has chosen JD Vance, a former Republican who used to oppose him, as his running mate for vice president.

At the Republican National Convention (RNC), delegates officially chose Mr. Vance, aged 39, on Monday following an announcement by Trump on his social media account that he had selected him after careful consideration and thinking.

Mr. Vance is a venture capitalist who graduated from Yale University. He also wrote a memoir that became a bestseller and was later turned into a movie called Hillbilly Elegy.

In the past, he spoke negatively about his new running mate, even comparing him privately to "America's Hitler", but now he fully supports him.

During the 2022 midterm elections, he secured a position in the US Senate with the support of Trump - marking his inaugural victory in a public office election.

Following his approval as Trump's vice president, Mr. Vance criticized Joe Biden, stating on Fox News that the American people voted for a president who is now unable to perform his duties.

He said Democrats had not been truthful about Mr Biden's health, and voters have the opportunity to either support or penalize that behavior in the upcoming November election.

Mr Vance also mentioned that he had made negative comments about Trump in the past, but acknowledged the importance of admitting when he was mistaken.

A person from Ohio, Mr. Vance became well-known after his book Hillbilly Elegy was published. The book talks about his working-class childhood and how it influenced his beliefs.

Trump stated on Truth Social that the book "celebrated the diligent individuals of our nation".

As Vice President, J.D. will keep advocating for our Constitution, supporting our Troops, and will go above and beyond to assist me in MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN," he added.

Mr. Vance was given approval at the Republican National Convention, happening this week in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

He arrived at the event on Monday with his wife, Usha, and said hello to the attendees while a country song played in the background with the refrain "let's prioritize America".

Speaking to the audience at the basketball arena during the event, Bernie Moreno, who is running for the Ohio Senate, remarked: "For JD, 'America First' is not just a phrase. It is his guiding principle."

Donald Trump Jr. expressed his enthusiasm for the pick at the RNC, describing it as fantastic and a fantastic selection.

The decision was made prior to the start of the RNC in Milwaukee on Monday, and just two days after Trump narrowly escaped an assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania.

Afterwards, Mr Vance posted on Twitter that the Democratic Party's words had directly caused the attempted murder of President Trump.

Trump is planning to give a less intense speech at the RNC and ask for unity across the nation.

Mr. Vance has emerged as a key figure in the realm of Make America Great Again [MAGA] politics.

The decision indicates that the ex-president is aware that the outcome of this election will be determined by a few key states in the industrial Midwest, such as Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

He has been one of the most vocal critics of providing assistance to Ukraine while serving in the Senate.

In the past few months, he has put forth proposals to cut off federal funding for colleges where students have demonstrated against the Gaza conflict or that hire unauthorized immigrants.

In March, he proposed a bill that would exclude the Chinese government from American financial markets if they fail to abide by global trade regulations.

He has also made many appearances at events for Trump's campaign, and journeyed to New York City to be present at Trump's trial for fraud.

Mr Vance, who officially became a member of the Catholic Church in 2019, is against abortion. He supports Trump's consistent stance that this topic should be decided by each state on its own.

He is one of the most youthful candidates ever chosen for the role of vice president in the United States.

During his participation at the RNC, Ohio's Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted praised Mr. Vance as a shining example of achieving success in America.

"He started from the bottom and always remembered his roots," he stated.

Mr. Vance and Trump will compete against President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris for the Democratic nomination in the upcoming general election on 5 November.

During a short conversation with journalists on Monday, Mr. Biden criticized Mr. Vance by saying that he is very similar to Trump when it comes to certain topics.

The Biden campaign stated that Trump selected Mr. Vance because Vance is willing to support Trump and his extreme MAGA agenda, even if it means disregarding the law and ignoring the harm it may cause to American citizens, a quality they believe Pence did not possess.