Donald Trump Flexes His Hollywood Connects With Left-Field VP Pick

Former President Donald Trump has taken to Truth Social to formally announce his pick for his 2024 vice presidential running mate — and his choice has many folks surprised. Senator J.D. Vance officially has the gig. "After lengthy deliberation and thought, and considering the tremendous talents of many others, I have decided that the person best suited to assume the position of Vice President of the United States is Senator J.D. Vance of the Great State of Ohio," Trump wrote on July 15. 

While listing Vance's accomplishments, Trump made note of his Hollywood success, writing, "J.D.'s book, 'Hillbilly Elegy,' became a Major Best Seller and Movie, as it championed the hardworking men and women of our Country." Thirty-nine-year-old Vance was elected to the United States Senate in 2022 and was sworn in in January 2023. Around 2005, Vance joined the United States Marine Corps and went on to fight in the Iraq War. Vance's website features his quote, "Ohioans deserve a Senator who knows how to fight. That's exactly what I'm here to do."

As promised, Trump's running mate was announced during the Republican National Convention, which kicked off on July 15 and will run through July 18.

In recent years, J.D. Vance has become a loud and proud Donald Trump supporter. Yet, before an apparent change of heart, he was vehemently against Trump. In 2016 Facebook messages obtained by USA Today, Vance wrote, "I go back and forth between thinking Trump is a cynical a**hole like Nixon who wouldn't be that bad (and might even prove useful) or that he's America's Hitler," adding, "How's that for discouraging?" He also called Trump "the fruit of the party's collective neglect." In a Charlie Rose interview that same year, Vance put it plainly, saying, "I'm a Never Trump guy. I never liked him," per Politico.

Vance's former harsh criticism of Trump isn't the only thing that makes him a surprising pick for the second-time presidential hopeful's VP. If Trump were to win the 2024 election, Vance would now become the second-youngest vice president in U.S. history, tied with Richard Nixon, to whom he ironically likened Trump. The senator will turn 40 on August 2, 2024.

Of course, Vance's opinion of the former president changed; he proceeded to vote for him in 2020 and told Fox News in 2021 (via Politico), "I regret being wrong about the guy." In 2022, Trump, in turn, publicly supported Vance — in his own way, saying, "J.D. is kissing my a** he wants my support so bad," per CNN. It will certainly be interesting to see this unlikely duo in the race for the White House.