DALLAS — JD Vance Draws Attention at GOP Midterm Convention
The atmosphere was electric as Vice President JD Vance delivered an invigorating keynote address on the last day of the GOP midterm convention, leading many attendees to view him as a leading candidate to succeed President Trump.
Vance capitalized on the absence of potential rivals, particularly Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is speculated to be a contender for 2028. Additionally, Trump had given a lengthy, two-hour speech on the first day of the convention, leaving Vance with a unique opportunity—his own speech was shorter than usual, at just 25 minutes.
Though nobody could excite the crowd quite like Trump, Vance created a captivating atmosphere that resulted in audience chants encouraging him to run in 2028.
“Let’s take care of business this November, then we’ll worry about what comes next,” Vance responded to the chants of “JD 28,” with a grin that he couldn’t hide.
His delivery also showcased a notable difference from Trump’s style. While Trump is known for his spontaneous approach—veering off-script—Vance mostly adhered to his prepared remarks.
However, a disruption occurred when a protester wearing a purple shirt interrupted his speech while waving a Mexican flag. Vance humorously retorted, “Well, my friend, if you love Mexico so much, get your ass over there,” while security took action against the protester.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I had a whole speech written,” he continued, “but I think I gotta change it because we just discovered the symbol of the far left: an idiot waving … a Mexican flag at a protest when he should be waving the flag of the United States of America.”
Attendees expressed admiration for how he dealt with the protester and left with the impression that he possesses a presidential presence.
“He didn’t just look the part of someone being groomed for the presidency,” noted Frank McCaffrey from Texas. “He seemed ready for it. After the midterms, they’re going to have to hand the torch to him.”
“He’s the next big thing. He truly is,” he added.
McCaffrey compared Vance’s impactful speech to an exciting fight where the undercard steals the show. Jim Danner, another Texan, praised Vance’s delivery and noted how energized he felt after hearing him speak about family values. “That was the first speech from him that really made me think, wow, that was impressive.”
In his address, Vance also sought to reconnect with conservatives who have felt alienated by the war in Iran, cautioning against giving power to “a bunch of crazy people because you happen to disagree with us on a policy issue.”
This conflict has caused divisions within the MAGA coalition, particularly among those aligned with a more anti-war stance, which Vance has often supported.
While Trump acknowledged these divisions by underscoring the dangers of Iran acquiring nuclear weapons, he concluded decisively, “I’m right then — I win.”
Among attendees, one man joked that Rubio lacked the height necessary for a president, suggesting that was vital to intimidate foreign threats. His humor suggested that, according to him, it was also an argument against having a female president— a view his wife confirmed.
“I’m not sure if he was aiming for the presidency, but it was definitely a great speech for everyone involved—these people are all fired up,” remarked Bob Fioretti, an Illinois Attorney General hopeful.
National Committeewoman Rhonda Bellfort from Illinois praised Vance, noting he “knocked it out of the ballpark.” She said, “He’s been auditioning since day one, and he nailed it. He spoke the truth.”
Vance has frequently been regarded as the leading contender for the 2028 GOP nomination in polls, although he has indicated that he will wait until after the midterms to make any official decisions about running. Similarly, Trump has mentioned that it’s too soon to determine who would follow him, although he is already considering whether Vance or Rubio would be the better choice.
