Trump's Critical VP Pick: High Stakes at the Republican National Convention

Former President Trump will make his vice-presidential pick on Monday, he told Fox News. A defiant Trump, having just survived an attempted assassination, enters the Republican National Convention without yet announcing his vice-presidential pick.

Before the shooting, Trump had planned a dramatic reveal at the convention, making it more “interesting” and “exciting,” which aligns with his reality television background. However, the gravity of his choice has now intensified. If the bullet had been just a bit to the right, Trump could have been killed or seriously injured. This close call underscores the significance of selecting a vice president who is ready to step into the presidency if necessary.

Trump confirmed to anchor Bret Baier that he would announce his running mate on the opening day of the Republican National Convention in Wisconsin. His aides have suggested that Trump and his running mate might appear on stage Monday evening.

The search has narrowed down to Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R), with Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) also mentioned as a contender. Vance and Rubio are leading the pack, with Vance having strong backing from Trump’s inner circle, including Donald Trump Jr. These candidates have varied levels of experience. JD Vance has been in office for less than two years, while Gov. Burgum manages a state smaller than Columbus, Ohio. Marco Rubio, on the other hand, is a seasoned politician in his third Senate term.

Speculation around Vance grew as law enforcement was stationed outside his home in Ohio on Sunday night. The importance of Trump’s running mate was highlighted over the weekend after an assassination attempt left Trump bloodied with a bullet graze to his ear.

Vance, possibly days away from being announced as the vice-presidential nominee, quickly blamed President Joe Biden for the assassination attempt. In a post on Saturday evening, Vance wrote: “Today is not just some isolated incident. The central premise of the Biden campaign is that President Donald Trump is an authoritarian fascist who must be stopped at all costs. That rhetoric led directly to President Trump's attempted assassination.” Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) responded, saying Vance’s rhetoric is inflammatory and should disqualify him from serving as vice president.

Violence has no place in politics. However, it’s essential to note that Trump himself has a history of promoting and condoning violence. His statements throughout his presidency encouraged violent behavior, from urging police to be rough during arrests to his infamous “stand back and stand by” comment to the Proud Boys.

In July 2017, during a speech to law enforcement officers in Long Island, New York, Trump seemingly encouraged police officers to be rough with suspects, saying, "Please don't be too nice." In August 2017, after the white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, Trump failed to unequivocally condemn the violence and said "many sides" were to blame, failing to distinguish between those who participated in the "Unite the Right" rally and those who showed up in opposition. In October 2018, while speaking at a Montana campaign rally, Trump publicly praised Montana's then-Rep. Greg Gianforte for previously assaulting a reporter, saying, "Any guy that can do a body slam, he is my type!"

In October 2019, a New York Times report outlined various strategies Trump had allegedly deliberated to keep migrants away from the U.S. southern border, including a water-filled trench with snakes or alligators and shooting migrants in the legs to slow them down. In May 2020, Trump used violent rhetoric regarding Minneapolis protests after George Floyd’s killing, tweeting, "when the looting starts, the shooting starts." The phrase has a racist history going back to police brutality against Black Americans in the 1960s. In June 2020, Trump threatened to use the military to quell Black Lives Matter protests, saying, "If a city or state refuses to take the actions necessary to defend the life and property of their residents, then I will deploy the United States military and quickly solve the problem for them."

In August 2020, Trump expressed interest in sending the National Guard to Portland to confront protesters, saying, "We could fix Portland in, I would say, 45 minutes." In September 2020, Trump lauded law enforcement officers for killing Michael Forest Reinoehl, a self-described Antifa member suspected of killing a right-wing activist, saying, "That’s the way it has to be. There has to be retribution." In January 2021, at a rally preceding the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, Trump repeated false claims that the 2020 election had been stolen and told supporters that "we're going to walk down to the Capitol," adding that "you'll never take back our country with weakness."

J.D. Vance jumped on the national stage eight years ago through his book "Hillbilly Elegy." Now he's one of the top contenders to be former President Donald Trump's running mate. Vance was born in Middleton, Ohio, served in the Marine Corps, attended Ohio State University, and graduated from Yale Law School. He was a corporate lawyer and then worked in the tech industry as a venture capitalist.

In 2016, Vance released his memoir, "Hillbilly Elegy," which shared his story of growing up in poverty in America's Rust Belt and being surrounded by violence and addiction. Vance eventually became an emissary between the media and those in the Rust Belt during the 2016 election, discussing the issues important to those who had a similar background to him. During this time, Vance made his disdain for Trump clear, saying he was a "never-Trump guy" in an interview with Charlie Rose in 2016.

However, Vance eventually aligned with the former president, praising his time in office and apologizing for his attacks on him during an interview with Fox News in July 2021. His apology came around the same time Vance entered the race for the open Ohio Senate seat, which became one of the most competitive GOP primaries of the 2022 election cycle.

Vance says he is fighting a class war on behalf of workers, but his record suggests otherwise. When he does intervene in matters of class, it’s often on the side of the elites. He showed up to a UAW picket line in Ohio but opposes the PRO Act, which would shore up collective bargaining rights for millions of workers. Vance knows who his real allies are, and they aren’t in the UAW. They’re people like his former boss, billionaire Peter Thiel, or employees of the far-right Claremont Institute.

This unfolding situation with Trump, Vance, and the Republican National Convention illustrates the intricate web of political strategies, personal ambitions, and public perceptions. As we watch these events unfold, it's crucial to consider the broader implications for our political climate and the future of our nation.