Republican Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio is being seen as one of the leading candidates to be former President Trump’s running mate.
In an exclusive interview with Lawrence Jones, Vance and his wife Usha spoke about his military service and why they believe President Trump should seek a second term in office.
“I care very much about our national defense and I care very much about making sure our soldiers have what they need to fight and, frankly, when we ask our kids to go to war, I care very much about making sure it’s for the right reasons. So, as a Marine, I probably have to think about these things a little bit differently,” Vance said on “Fox & Friends” on Wednesday.
Vance described Trump as a “great president” who he said had brought prosperity, freedom and “peace” to the world stage.
Usha said she would support her husband if he is called to take up the post of vice president.
“I believe in JD and I really love him, so we’ll just see what happens in life. We’re open.”
Donald Trump has chosen his running mate and will appear in Thursday’s debate
Republican Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio speaks to reporters outside criminal court in Manhattan, New York City, USA, Monday, May 13, 2024. (Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Vance said he was critical of Trump in 2016 but that his presidency proved him wrong.
“This is about President Trump’s success. But I think, at least to me, his presidency has revealed how corrupt the media is. We’ve learned some very important lessons about how the media lies,” Vance said.
Vance said that unlike Vice President Kamala Harris, he is able to articulate his beliefs without relying on talking points.
“I actually know what I believe, and I’m not afraid to say I was wrong or right on this issue. But that’s not the point for me. Politicians are really good at saying things very nicely, but not actually saying anything. But that’s the thing about Kamala Harris, right?”
“I listened to her for 10 minutes and she didn’t say anything,” Vance added of Harris.
Vance said he would be able to deal with the attacks if he were Trump’s running mate.
“I grew up poor, I grew up in a working-class community. So I think there’s something about my background that makes it harder for these people to attack me. And maybe that’s why they’re scared of me. I just try to go out there and do the best I can. If they’re scared of me, it’s because I accept that.”
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Vance said he thinks candidates need to focus on “substantive” issues and avoid talking points.
But Vance expressed gratitude for being nominated and was honest about how he would feel if he had not been selected.
“I’m sure there will be a little bit of disappointment, but I think the bigger issue is that it’s so awesome to be able to do the job that I do.”
Who Trump has chosen as his running mate remains a mystery, but several candidates were asked to submit paperwork to the Trump campaign in recent days as part of the vetting process, including Vance, who some say could be key to flipping working-class Democrats in several key battleground states.
“J.D. Vance is a regular at Donald Trump’s campaign rallies and is extremely popular among Trump supporters,” a top Republican strategist told Fox News Digital, noting that Vance frequently accompanies Trump on and off the campaign trail.
“He’s going to be a great help throughout the Rust Belt and he’s going to help garner the working-class Democratic vote outside of Ohio. He’s really going to be valuable everywhere, but especially in states like Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin.”
All three states mentioned were won by Trump in 2016 and formed part of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s so-called “Blue Wall” at the time. President Biden In 2020.
Whatever happens, Usha and JD said they will continue doing what they love – being mothers and fathers to their three children.
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Tune in to “Fox & Friends” at 6 a.m. ET on Thursday to hear an interview with Sen. Tim Scott (R.S.C.) and his fiancée, Mindy North. On Friday, “Fox & Friends” will interview Gov. Doug Burgum (R.N.D.) and his wife, Katherine, as part of a series featuring President Trump’s running mates.
Fox News’ Brandon Gillespie contributed to this report.
