SENATOR JD Vance, of Ohio, has been named as Donald Trump's chosen vice president, and some political experts believe the GOP candidate made a mistake.
Trump played it safe by picking Vance to join him on his journey back to the White House, as other politicians could have strengthened his campaign, according to university professor David Richards.
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This week, Trump has dominated media coverage for surviving an assassination attempt and overcoming allegations that he mishandled sensitive documents.
All eyes were pointed at his entrance to the Republican National Committee, and his team kept the energy high by revealing he would announce the VP pick on Monday.
After months of deliberation, Trump chose the rags-to-riches picture of the American Dream - working-class Ohio native turned technology lawyer Vance.
According to Trump, Vance, who is also a Marine Corps veteran, "will be strongly focused on the people he fought so brilliantly for."
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Trump praised Vance's achievements, including his best-selling novel turned Hollywood film Hillbilly Elegy, which gave an inside look at the struggles of growing up in the Rust Belt.
At the end of June, Vance boldly admitted in an interview with Fox News that he would be offended if Trump didn't pick him as his right-hand man.
"I’m human. When you know this thing is a possibility, if it doesn’t happen there’s certainly going to be disappointment," he said at the time.
However, despite the expectations and hype, political experts have said that Vance wasn't such an obvious choice for the job.
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Speaking exclusively to The U.S. Sun, Richards, who is a political science instructor at the University of Lynchburg in Virginia, said he was shocked by the news.
"Vance has shown a willingness to toady up to Trump, but doesn't really deliver much else to the campaign," the expert said.
JD Vance admits he'll be 'disappointed' if Trump snubs him for vice-presidential pick on day before debate
"Ohio is already a GOP state and Vance has not shown much skill at actually getting things done, a crucial role for modern vice presidents who often work behind the scenes to build consensus, especially in Congress.
"Vance might be a safe choice for Trump, but I think adding him to the ticket wasted other, potentially better choices."
RACE FOR THE WHITE HOUSE
Before Monday's announcement, politicians like North Carolina Governor Doug Burgum and Florida Senator Marco Rubio were all reportedly up for the job.
However, one by one, insiders shot down the hopefuls until only Vance remained.
Vance is most known for taking a strong stance on issues that affect the Appalachian communities of his youth like the opioid crisis and the lack of industry in middle America.
He is also a devout Catholic and has traditional views on abortion, marriage, and family.
When he first started climbing up the political ladder, Vance broke away from his fellow conservatives by opposing Trump's election bid in 2016.
In a column for USA Today, he said Trump's policy proposals "range from immoral to absurd."
However, in 2020, he went on to endorse Trump for president and apologized for his comments.
At just 39 years old and with less than one Senate term under his belt, Vance is a nontraditional choice for VP.
After the news of Trump's choice broke, Biden posted on X to say Vance is known for "talking big game."
"Here's the deal about JD Vance," Biden wrote.
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"He talks a big game about working people. But now, he and Trump want to raise taxes on middle-class families while pushing more tax cuts for the rich.
"Well, I don't intend to let them."
DONALD TRUMP'S FULL STATEMENT ON VP PICK
After lengthy deliberation and thought, and considering the tremendous talents of many others, I have decided that the person best suited to assume the position of Vice President of the United States is Senator J.D. Vance of the Great State of Ohio.
J.D. honorably served our Country in the Marine Corps, graduated from Ohio State University in two years, Summa Cum Laude, and is a Yale Law School Graduate, where he was Editor of The Yale Law Journal, and President of the Yale Law Veterans Association.
J.D.’s book, “Hillbilly Elegy,” became a Major Best Seller and Movie, as it championed the hardworking men and women of our Country.
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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