At the RNC, JD Vance accepts the vice presidential nomination, highlights Trump’s resilience and criticizes Biden

Senator J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) officially accepted Donald Trump’s nomination as his/her vice presidential candidate during his/her keynote address at the Republican National Convention on Wednesday.

Vance said, “Tonight, Mr. President, I stand here humbly, and it gives me great pleasure to say that I officially accept your nomination for vice president of the United States.”

he/she praised Trump in his/her speech, calling him/her “tough” and saying he/she “cares about people.”

he/she also praised Trump’s call for unity, saying, “My message to you, my fellow Republicans, is that we love this country and we are united to win.”

“I think our disagreements actually make us stronger,” he/she said.

In his/her inaugural address, Vance also spoke about the recent assassination attempt on Trump and emphasized the former president’s dedication and determination to the nation.

“Look at that picture of him/her in that defiant pose, fist in the air. When Donald Trump stood on that field in Pennsylvania, all of America stood with him/her. And what did he/she tell us to do for our country? To fight. To fight for America,” Vance said of Trump’s move to raise his/her fist and encourage rally attendees to “fight.”

he/she highlighted a poignant moment from the July 15 assassination attempt, when a bullet grazed Trump’s ear during a rally in Pennsylvania. Vance called the iconic image of Trump raising his/her fist in the face of danger a symbol of his/her unwavering commitment to America.

“Look at that picture of him/her in a defiant pose with his/her fist in the air,” Vance said, referring to the moment Trump stood on the field in Pennsylvania. “When Donald Trump stood on the field in Pennsylvania, all of America stood with him/her. And what did he/she tell us to do for our country? To fight. To fight for America.”

Vance praised Trump’s response to the assassination attempt, calling it a testament to his/her leadership. “Even in his/her most dangerous moment, we were on his/her mind. his/her instincts were for us … calling us to something higher,” Vance insisted.

he/she further reflected on the gravity of the situation, noting how a celebratory evening at the conference could have been marred by tragedy. “As we meet tonight, we cannot forget that this evening could have been very different. Instead of a day of celebration, it could have been a day of heartbreak and mourning.”

Vance praised Trump’s dedication over the past eight years, even as he/she faced personal and political adversity. “For the past eight years, President Trump has given everything he/she has to fight for the people of our country. he/she didn’t need politics, but the country needed him/her… Rather than take the easier route, he/she chose to endure abuse, slander and persecution. he/she did it because he/she loves this country.”

The senator contrasted Trump’s toughness and compassion, stressing that he/she is capable of both fierce resistance and national healing. “he/she’s tough but he/she cares about people. he/she can be fighting a killer one moment and calling for national healing the next.”

Trump, who was watching the speech from inside the arena, stood to clap as Vance arrived on stage, signaling his/her approval of the 39-year-old Ohio senator.

In his/her speech, Vance also outlined a vision for the future of Trump’s political movement, emphasizing that Trump expects him/her to lead the party beyond his/her presidency—a role Trump did not envision for his/her previous vice president, Mike Pence.

Vance’s speech was a mix of personal reflection and sharp political criticism. he/she began by addressing the gravity of the day, reflecting on the recent assassination attempt on Trump and stating that “tonight is a night of hope – a celebration of what America once was, what it will soon be again, by the grace of God.” he/she expressed that the evening would have been filled with “heartache and grief” if a tragedy had occurred as a result of the assassination attempt.

Vance also took the opportunity to criticize President Joe Biden’s political record, drawing a stark contrast between Biden’s past decisions and Trump’s policies. he/she explained how, when he/she was in high school, “a career politician named Joe Biden supported NAFTA, a bad trade deal that sent countless good jobs to Mexico.”

he/she also pointed to Biden’s support for the trade deal with China and the Iraq War, claiming these actions led to job losses and conflict in American communities. Vance asserted, “Somehow, a New York City real estate developer named Donald J. Trump was right on all of these issues while Biden was wrong.”

At the convention, Usha Vance, the wife of Trump’s running mate, took the stage to tell the story of how they met at Yale Law School and reflected on their personal backgrounds.

“We were friends first,” Usha recalls of their early relationship. “he/she was, then and now, the most interesting person I know — a working-class guy who had overcome childhood traumas I couldn’t imagine and gotten into Yale Law School, a tough Marine who had served in Iraq but whose best pastimes were playing with puppies and watching the movie ‘Babe.’”

She also spoke about her background and said, “My background is very different from JD’s. I grew up in a middle-class community in San Diego with two loving parents – both immigrants from India – and an amazing sister.”

Usha also said, “The fact that JD and I were able to meet, let alone fall in love and get married, is a testament to this great country.” This statement underscored her appreciation for the opportunities available in the U.S.

Usha Vance’s family is Hindu, while JD Vance converted to Catholicism in 2019.

That same day, President Joe Biden cut short his/her campaign trip to Nevada after testing positive for COVID-19. The White House said Biden was experiencing mild symptoms as he/she continues to deal with a period of significant political pressure.

According to a senior Democratic adviser, “he/she’s receptive. he/she’s not as rebellious as he/she is publicly.” This comes amid growing calls from within the Democratic Party for Biden to reconsider his/her candidacy, reports CNN.