Donald Trump made his first public appearance since being shot at the Republican National Convention (RNC) on Monday. As the former President walked the corridors towards centre stage, he looked visibly emotional. Perhaps he is now conscious of the miracle that left him with just a bandage on his ear. It could have been far worse. It could have been even more dramatic, even more momentous.
The attempt on Trump’s life marked the entire convention. Majorie Taylor Greene, the Congresswoman from Georgia, spoke of evil coming for the “founding father” of the “America First movement.” God is, as Taylor Greene tells it, the saviour.
Trump entered the stage to cheers of “Fight!” — the word he chanted, in a true testament to the strength of his personality, after having just been shot. Behind him were notable Republicans, Tucker Carlson, Congressman Byron Donalds, and JD Vance, his new running mate. As it often does, the appointment tells a story on his campaign strategy.
In 2016, Trump selected Mike Pence, the Governor of Indiana, to appeal to evangelical Christian voters who were sceptical of Trump. He is a thrice-married former Democrat after all.
This time, however, Vance is not an attempt to appeal to a religious group. I think Trump believes he has convincingly won that part of the vote. Rather, Trump is wary that the forthcoming election will be decided in a handful of Midwestern states, particularly amongst white, working-class voters.
Vance, born in Ohio and is its senator, will certainly appeal to them. He gained popularity through the release of his memoir, Hillbilly Elegy. The book explores themes particularly felt by the white working class, delving into poverty and economic difficulty, and growing family and community dysfunction. Vance then details the values and resilience that helped him overcome these obstacles, achieving a BA from Ohio State University in political science and philosophy, and graduating from Yale Law School with a Juris Doctor.
Vance’s appointment is a slight surprise. He was initially sceptical of Trump in 2016, warning he may become “America’s Hitler.” But recently, perhaps aware of Trump’s love of yes-men, Vance has become an ardent supporter.
When asked about the 2020 election, Vance denied the result. Vance also said that if he were the VP on January 6th, he would have blocked the certification of the result — a significant departure from Pence.
Trump and Vance are also a good ideological match. Vance is personally against abortion and would support a ban on abortions after 15 weeks, but supports the notion that it should be decided at the state level. Vance also proposed legislation that would criminalise gender-affirming care for minors. He asserts that taxpayer money should not be used to fund such procedures, stating, “Doctors should never be permitted to carry out these severe, irreversible surgeries on children under any circumstances.” Vance has also been critical of US military and financial support to Ukraine.
So, for now, at least, we can expect few ideological conflicts if Trump wins the election in November. But who really expected Trump to select someone who wasn’t an ardent Trump defender?
The Vice President, Kamala Harris, has already called Vance, leaving a message of congratulations. Harris has, apparently, already expressed interest in debating Vance in the proposed debate by CBS.
The Democrats have already revealed some attack lines, steering attention to the most extreme depths of the Republican party. “Vance will […] bend over backwards to enable Trump and his extreme MAGA agenda,” said Jen O’Malley Dillon, the chair of Biden’s campaign.
The Democrats, in an indication of their strategy, seem poised to centre the debate on abortion. It is, perhaps, a vulnerability of Trump amongst women, and thus may be a strength for Harris if Vance accepts the debate invitation.
The ‘Special Relationship’ is perhaps the source of some interesting debate, particularly for a Brit like myself. Vance, at a conservative conference, commented that the UK could become the first “Islamist country” with a nuclear weapon under a Labour government.
The comment is at best odd, but is most likely charged with Islamaphobia. The claim is far from true. We are a country proud of our religious diversity. We are far from the Islamic theocracies that Vance is scared of. It’s not even a comment Trump would think, let alone say to a public conference. So in regards to US-British relations under a Trump presidency, I think we can ignore it. But it is worrying when someone close to the most powerful office in the world can say something quite frankly reckless and untrue.
Vance is clearly a strategic choice — and it was an expected one. Nonetheless, it is interesting to see where Trump believes the election will be won. Despite initial scepticism, Vance has become a staunch Trump supporter, aligning ideologically on key issues, signalling a unified front in the Republican campaign. Perhaps this is something the Democrats currently lack given the fractures around Biden’s age.
The upcoming election will be decided in the margins. Not California, Texas, Florida or New York. But the American towns and suburbs unknown to us Brits. Vance as Trump’s running mate will certainly bode well amongst working-class voters and may make all the difference.
Image: Ralph Branson
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