Former President Donald J. Trump has officially been confirmed as the Republican nominee for the 2024 presidential election, just days after surviving an assassination attempt at a campaign rally.
The announcement was made at the Republican National Convention, where Trump secured an overwhelming 2,387 delegate votes, far surpassing the 1,215 needed to clinch the nomination.
US House Speaker Mike Johnson unveiled the results to an electrified crowd at the convention. “Let’s make it official,” Johnson declared. “Accordingly, the chair announces that President Donald J. Trump – having received a majority of the votes entitled to be cast at the convention – has been selected as the Republican Party nominee for President of the United States.”
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The confirmation marks a significant moment in Trump’s political career, especially following the recent attempt on his life. Despite the attack, Trump has shown resilience and determination, reinforcing his status as a leading figure in American politics.
JD Vance Named Vice-Presidential Running Mate
In a move that surprised many, Trump has chosen US Senator JD Vance as his vice-presidential running mate. Vance, a staunch conservative and former critic of Trump, represents Ohio and has rapidly ascended the political ladder since he entered politics in 2022. His rise was propelled by the success of his memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy,” which chronicles his upbringing in the Rust Belt and has been both a bestseller and a major motion picture.
Trump praised Vance in a post on his Truth Social platform, highlighting his qualifications and transformation.
“JD honorably served our Country in the Marine Corps, graduated from Ohio State University in two years, Summa Cum Laude, and is a Yale Law School Graduate, where he was Editor of The Yale Law Journal, and President of the Yale Law Veterans Association,” Trump wrote.
“JD’s book, ‘Hillbilly Elegy,’ became a Major Best Seller and Movie, as it championed the hardworking men and women of our Country,” he added.
From Critic to Ally
Vance’s selection is particularly notable given his past criticism of Trump. In 2016, Vance described Trump as “America’s Hitler” and expressed doubt over Trump’s solutions for the country. However, his perspective shifted dramatically in 2021 when he sought an endorsement from Trump during a competitive Senate race in Ohio. After apologizing for his previous comments and securing Trump’s endorsement, Vance won the seat in a closely contested and expensive race.
Since then, Vance has become a close ally of Trump, often serving as a surrogate on the campaign trail. His transformation underscores the evolving dynamics within the Republican Party, as many politicians align themselves with Trump’s brand of politics to gain support and influence.
Political and Ideological Shifts of Vance
JD Vance’s political journey has been marked by significant ideological shifts. Originally a conventional conservative who advocated for reaching out to America’s working class, Vance has adopted many of Trump’s positions and rhetoric in recent years.
Scott Lucas, a professor of US and international politics at University College Dublin, commenting on Vance’s transformation told Aljazeera: “In 2016, he actually said Trump was America’s Hitler. He was more of a conventional conservative. But he saw which way the Trump bandwagon was going and decided to match and even exceed Trump in his rhetoric.”
Lucas described Vance’s positions as “anti-immigrant to the point of being Islamophobic” and noted that Vance has pushed the “White Replacement Theory.” He also characterized Vance as “fiercely anti-abortion,” “against lesbian and gay rights,” and “against America providing funds to Ukraine.”
Lucas added, “In picking JD Vance, Trump is actually reinforcing the politics of division, even the politics of confrontation.
Reactions from the Biden Campaign
The Biden re-election campaign responded swiftly to the announcement of Vance as Trump’s running mate. The campaign said Vance will ‘bend over backwards for extreme MAGA agenda’
“Vance will enable Trump and his extreme MAGA agenda, even if it means breaking the law and no matter the harm to the American people,” the Biden campaign stated. “Americans’ choice in November is between two starkly contrasting visions: Biden’s focus on uniting the country versus Trump-Vance’s harmful agenda.”
Assassination Attempt Investigation
The FBI said it has been working diligently to uncover the motives behind the assassination attempt on Trump.
“FBI technical specialists successfully gained access to Thomas Matthew Crooks’ phone and they continue to analyze his electronic devices,” the FBI said in a statement.
“The search of the subject’s residence and vehicle are complete,” it added.
On Saturday, Crooks was shot dead for firing shots at Trump and killing his rally attendee. The FBI is now treating the incident as an assassination attempt and potential domestic “terrorism”.
The head of the Department of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said an investigation is ongoing, with an independent review into the circumstances surrounding the shooting set to begin in the coming days.