Trump’s VP Pick Vance Pledges to Fight for ‘Forgottten’ Working-Class Americans

In a primetime address at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, JD Vance, Donald Trump’s vice-presidential pick, pledged to fight for working-class Americans, asserting they had been “cast aside and forgotten” by the Democrats.

Introducing himself to millions of viewers at home, the Ohio senator drew from his humble Midwest roots and lambasted “career politicians” like President Joe Biden. Vance proclaimed Trump as the “last best hope” for Americans during his speech.

Trump and his running mate are set to challenge the Democratic White House ticket of President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in the upcoming November election. President Biden’s account on X, formerly Twitter, responded to Vance on Wednesday night, criticizing his stances on abortion and Ukraine.

At 39, Vance aims to become one of the youngest vice-presidents in US history. In his speech, he recounted his journey from a challenging childhood in small-town Ohio to serving in the US Marines, attending Yale Law School, and ultimately joining the US Senate. 

The author of the best-selling memoir “Hillbilly Elegy,” Vance highlighted how “America’s ruling class” had devastated communities like his hometown through trade agreements and foreign wars.

“From Iraq to Afghanistan, from the financial crisis to the Great Recession, from open borders to stagnating wages, the people who govern this country have failed and failed again,” Vance stated. 

He emphasised, “Donald Trump represents America’s last best hope to restore what, if lost, may never be found again. A country where a working-class boy, born far from the halls of power, can stand on this stage.”

Married to Usha Vance, a lawyer and daughter of Indian immigrants, Vance acknowledged America’s tradition of welcoming newcomers but argued against importing foreign labor. “When we allow newcomers, we allow them on our terms,” he declared.

Vance’s relationship with Trump has seen significant changes over time. Initially critical of Trump, calling him an “idiot” who could become “America’s Hitler,” Vance later reconciled with Trump, secured his endorsement, and was elected to the Senate in 2022.

Democrats have highlighted some of Vance’s past controversial statements, including his indifference to Ukraine’s plight and his support for a nationwide abortion ban. Recently, he moderated his stance on abortion to align with the Republican platform, which supports state-level decisions on the issue. 

Vance avoided discussing the Ukraine war during his speech, which focused more on foreign policy, the theme of the third day of the convention. 

He did, however, stress that US allies should share the burden of securing world peace, and under a second Trump presidency, America would avoid conflict but “punch hard” if provoked.

Vance opened his speech by addressing the recent assassination attempt on Trump. “They accused him of being a tyrant,” he said. “They said he must be stopped at all costs. But how did he respond? He called for national unity, for national calm.”

In the immediate aftermath of the attack, Vance attributed it to Biden’s rhetoric, which portrayed Trump as a threat to democracy. 

Most Americans were unfamiliar with Vance until his Wednesday night speech. A CNN poll last month showed that 13% of registered voters had a favorable opinion of Vance, while 20% viewed him unfavorably; nearly two-thirds either had never heard of him or had no opinion.

Convention attendees, such as Cindy Dore and Jackie Canon from Louisiana, expressed their excitement about Trump’s pick. “He’s young, vibrant,” Dore commented. She appreciated “Hillbilly Elegy” but admitted to knowing little else about Vance.

The speeches commenced shortly after it was announced that President Biden had tested positive for COVID-19, temporarily halting his campaign activities. The climax of the Republican convention will be Trump’s speech on Thursday night.

Chris Devine, an associate professor of politics at the University of Dayton and co-author of “Do Running Mates Matter?,” remarked that vice-presidential picks usually have a minimal impact on the overall race.

 “If it’s the case that people look at JD Vance and see him as insufficiently experienced, they will think less of Donald Trump and his judgement,” he explained, adding that Vance is an “incredibly talented communicator” despite being relatively new to politics.

Follow us on: