Trump's running mate, J.D. Vance, pledges to fight for forgotten workers

In a powerful address at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, U.S. Senator J.D. Vance, who has been chosen as Donald Trump’s vice presidential running mate, showcased his personal journey as the son of a neglected industrial town in Ohio. Vance, 39, highlighted his rise from a challenging childhood to serving in the U.S. Marines, attending Yale Law School, venturing into capitalism, and eventually becoming a senator. Through his story, Vance aimed to connect with Americans and demonstrate his understanding of their daily struggles.

Hailing from Middletown, Ohio, Vance described the town as one that had been disregarded and abandoned by the ruling class in Washington. He criticized career politicians, such as President Joe Biden, for their detrimental impact on communities like his through misguided trade policies and foreign wars. Vance emphasized President Trump’s vision of prioritizing the working class over Wall Street, pledging to fight for the interests of hardworking Americans.

Vance’s speech also targeted key swing states in the Rust Belt, including Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, where the working and middle classes play a crucial role in determining the outcome of the upcoming election.

The meteoric rise of J.D. Vance, who formerly criticized Trump but now ardently supports him, reflects the president’s influence within the Republican Party. Alongside prominent Republicans like Senators Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, Vance exemplifies the transformation of critics into loyalists, underscoring Trump’s dominance in the party.

As the author of the bestselling memoir “Hillbilly Elegy,” Vance has played a significant role in shaping Trump’s populist agenda, which aims to recalibrate the United States’ role in global affairs. Being the first millennial on a major party’s ticket, Vance has the potential to carry forward Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement beyond a potential second term.

During his speech, Vance reiterated Trumpism’s core principles, vowing to prioritize domestic manufacturing, confront Chinese imports, and demand that allies contribute their fair share to global security. He has opposed military aid for Ukraine and defended Trump’s efforts to challenge the 2020 election results. Vance advocates for government support of the working class through measures such as import restrictions, raising the minimum wage, and curbing corporate excesses, even if these positions diverge from the traditional pro-business stance of the Republican Party.

Democrats have already begun criticizing Vance for his strong anti-abortion views, with the Biden campaign accusing him of prioritizing extremism and the interests of the ultra-wealthy over democracy.

While Biden, 81, faced challenges after testing positive for COVID-19 and struggling to reassure anxious Democrats about his ability to defeat Trump, the president walked into the convention to enthusiastic applause. Trump’s entry was accompanied by James Brown’s “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World,” setting the stage for his closing speech on Thursday.

During Vance’s address, he paid tribute to his grandmother, who raised him while his mother battled addiction, and expressed his love for his now-sober mother, Beverly, who was present at the event. The emotional moment elicited a standing ovation from the delegates, showcasing the personal connection Vance has formed with his audience.

The convention also featured a video highlighting the families of soldiers who lost their lives during the 2021 U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, with many blaming Biden for their tragic losses. The grieving relatives took to the stage to voice their anger, leaving many in the audience in tears.

Several speakers at the convention launched aggressive attacks against the Biden administration, often without substantial evidence to support their claims. The tone of these speeches contradicted Trump’s promise to deliver a message of national unity following the recent assassination attempt on his life.

Peter Navarro, a former Trump White House official who was released from prison earlier in the day after serving a four-month sentence for contempt of Congress, received a rousing reception from the crowd as he took the stage. Navarro, who had refused to comply with a subpoena related to the investigation of the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, echoed Trump’s claim of being a victim of the “Department of Injustice” under Biden.

Other speakers focused on Biden’s border policies, with Tom Homan, the former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement under Trump, accusing the president of being the first in history to leave the border unsecured. Delegates waved signs calling for mass deportation, while Homan declared that failing to address border security amounted to national suicide.

While border crossings reached record levels during Biden’s presidency, arrests significantly declined in June after the implementation of a broad asylum ban. Trump has pledged to initiate the largest deportation effort in U.S. history, targeting undocumented immigrants.