J.D. Vance, Donald Trump’s vice presidential pick, Trump began his campaign on Monday, less than 24 hours after President Biden announced he was withdrawing from the race for a second term.
Vance began his day by hosting a rally in his hometown of Middletown, Ohio, where he linked Vice President Kamala Harris with “the worst president in history” and said he, like most people, was shocked to hear the news he was dropping out of the presidential race.
“I was playing with my kids yesterday. We were at the pool, in fact, and somebody brought their phone over and showed us the news that Joe Biden announced he was dropping out of the race. But I don’t like Joe Biden, I don’t like his policies, and I’m not going to vote in the Democratic primary. I never have, and I never will, unless something awful happens, folks,” Vance recalled.
Vance begins campaign as Harris team scrambles to solidify Democratic support
Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance. (Getty Images)
“I know most of you didn’t vote for Joe Biden. If you did, welcome. I’m glad you had me,” Vance said.
Vance said what’s happening is a threat to democracy..
“The idea that we’re going to pick the Democratic nominee just because George Soros and Barack Obama and a few elite Democrats got together in a smoke-filled room and decided to get rid of Joe Biden, that’s just not the case. That’s a threat to our democracy, not a threat to the Republican Party that fights for democracy every day,” Vance said.
Gen Z influencer praises Trump’s running mate JD Vance: “He has the power to win over my generation”
Republican Senator from Ohio and Republican vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance speaks during the Republican National Convention (RNC) at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, Wednesday, July 17, 2024. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Vance went on to say that he truly believes that the majority of Americans, whether Democrats, Republicans or Independents, are fundamentally good.
“So my message to Democrats who are fed up with how anti-democratic this process is, I welcome you into the Republican Party. We believe we should persuade voters, not lie to voters. Come in. The water is warm,” Vance said.
Addressing the crowd, Vance acknowledged that Michigan is a battleground state, said he would give Michiganders no reason to vote against Trump and Vance’s nomination, and said he would fight for every vote.
JD Vance mocks Washington Post’s ‘anti-woke’ scoop: ‘They got me’
Republican Senator from Ohio and Republican vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance attends a walkthrough of the Republican National Convention (RNC) at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, Tuesday, July 16, 2024. (Hannah Beyer/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“My life wasn’t that different from a lot of people who grew up in Middletown, Ohio, but it was tough, but I was surrounded by loving people. And I was surrounded by something that if we don’t fight for it, it won’t be left for the next generation of kids, and that’s opportunity. Middletown had opportunity, and we have to make sure that opportunity is there for the next generation,” Vance said.
Vance also recounted the time Trump called him asking him to be his running mate, and why it was the perfect opportunity for him and his family.
Click here to get the FOX News app
“So I had no idea what was going to happen. When the president called me and asked, ‘Would you like to run as my running mate?’ I said, ‘Yeah, sure,'” Vance said. “But he did a really great thing, and then he asked me, ‘What do you think about this statement I’m going to make?’ And, of course, he put it on social media. One of the things I love about President Trump is that he speaks directly to the people. He doesn’t let consultants filter it. He’s just himself, and that’s why a lot of people love him.”
Vance is scheduled to hold another rally in Radford, Virginia, on Monday night.
