Hillbilly Elegy author JD Vance announced as Trump's running mate for US election

Donald Trump has revealed that Ohio senator JD Vance would be his running mate in the US presidential election.

Author of the memoir Hillbilly Elegy about his experience in rural poverty, Vance was chosen in an effort to win over blue-collar voters in the swing states of the industrial Midwest.

After Trump’s 2016 election win, 39-year-old former venture capitalist was highly critical of the former president, describing him as an “idiot” and “America’s Hitler.” He also once described himself as a “never Trumper.”

He has since become a vocal supporter, even attending court in New York to support Trump’s hush money trial.

Just overwhelmed with gratitude.

What an honor it is to run alongside President Donald J. Trump. He delivered peace and prosperity once, and with your help, he'll do it again.

Onward to victory!

— J.D. Vance (@JDVance1) July 16, 2024

Over the weekend, Vance was criticised over a social media post referring to Trump’s shooting on Saturday, saying that the “central premise of the Biden campaign is that President Donald Trump is an authoritarian fascist who must be stopped at all costs”, adding: “That rhetoric led directly to President Trump’s attempted assassination.”

While Vance’s brand of populist politics align with Trump’s, it has also been a source of tension among more traditional party members due to his views on foreign policy: the senator opposes more US aid for Ukraine. He also supports higher minimum wage, trade protectionism and more aggressive antitrust enforcement.

Joe Biden posted on X after Mr Vance was confirmed as the vice-presidential candidate: "Here's the deal about J.D. Vance. 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. And if you're with me, pitch in."