By Tablet Staff

PROSPECT HEIGHTS — Former President Donald Trump announced Monday on Truth Social that first-term Ohio Senator J. D. Vance, a Catholic, will be his vice presidential pick.

Trump posted, “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.”

This announcement marks a significant moment in the run-up to the 2024 presidential election, with Vance’s selection expected to energize Trump’s base and shape the campaign’s dynamics.

Vance, who is Catholic, was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2022. He grew up in Jackson, Kentucky, and Middletown, Ohio. He described a childhood consumed by poverty and abuse in his best-selling 2016 memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy.” He served in the Marines after high school.  

This announcement comes as Trump prepares to make the formal announcement on the first day of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee following the attempted assassination of the former president on Saturday, July 13.

Shortlist candidates were: Florida Senator Marco Rubio and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, who were informed they were not chosen earlier in the day.

While Vance has grown in popularity as a rising star in the Republican Party, his selection could have been seen as a surprise because he was a “Never Trumper.”

In 2016, Vance openly criticized Trump, with pundits using his memoir to explain the former president’s appeal among white, rural voters. 

However, his stance flip flopped as he prepared for his 2022 Senate run. Vance deleted controversial tweets and became one of Trump’s most loyal allies in Congress.