JD Vance, the 39-year-old Senator of Ohio, was chosen. It was a politically crafty and bold move.
To begin, there were at least half a dozen other serious names mentioned in various outlets and forums for the job. North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, Florida Senator Marco Rubio, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, Florida Representative Byron Donalds, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton, and former Hawaii Representative Tulsi Gabbard were contenders.
Here’s a timeline of what happened on July 15 leading up to the announcement of Vance and why it’s a stunning power play, whereby the Right finally outfoxed the Left:
In 2024, choosing a white, heterosexual, Catholic man was audacious. Trump rejected lazy identity politics. Also risky was Vance’s previous stance, “100% pro-life.” In elections post Roe v. Wade (1973) to 2020, this would be an issue (it’s pretty much the only issue the Left rolls out, and then, only as a wedge). However, due to how disgustingly the Democrats have managed America’s decline, it has ceased to be what Americans are voting on in 2024. Illegal immigration, the economy, and crime have become the top three issues. Moreover, while Vance has said he’s personally pro-life, he was clear about his alignment with Trump’s position on abortion; states should determine their own policies.
Around the same time as Vance was announced, a tremendous blow hit the Democrats. X was buzzing with chatter that the General President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Sean O’Brien, refused to endorse Biden.
It got worse for the Democrats. Trump and Vance appeared at the Convention during Session 2, to raw and palpable displays of enthusiasm. Then O’Brian, himself, took the stage. As Joey Mannarino put it, “Does anyone understand the significance of the Teamsters being at the RNC? They have 1.3 MILLION members. They ALWAYS have endorsed Democrats. And guess where they are? Trump’s RNC."
O’Brian wasn’t just at the RNC, he spoke, and his speech gave clues as to why Trump might have selected Vance.
“Do you know what I see? The American worker is being taken for granted. We’re not beholden to anyone or any party…. We must put workers first. And I don’t care about getting criticized. It’s an honor to be the first Teamster in our 121 year history to address the Republican National Convention. The Teamsters reached out to eight Republican Senators who stood up for railroad Teamsters over our fight for paid sick leave… Senators like JD Vance are among elected officials who truly care about working people”, said O’Brian.
The bet Trump is making is that Vance will carry the Rust Belt, the region from New York through the Midwest that was once dominated by manufacturing, which has been gutted only because of Democrat policies. It happened under Clinton, when he started a big lie about getting China into the World Trade Origination. “By joining the WTO, China is not simply agreeing to import more of our products, it is agreeing to import one of democracy’s most cherished values, economic freedom,” said Clinton. What happened instead is that Clinton turned China into an aggressive plunderer that stole innovation and ideas. Jobs and manufacturing was shipped overseas. Businesses were outsourced.
Trump understands this. Maybe O’Brian and Vance do too. Frankly, they should. Trump is a formidable dealmaker and businessman. He knows why America’s Heartland has been stripped of its manufacturing base, resulting in the working man not working. Just like Clinton did with manufacturing and China, Biden has outsourced oil and gas to Russia and Iran, so Democrats can give the scheme of electric cars to donor friends.
Maybe Trump struck a deal with O’Brian, understanding the gravitas of the Teamsters’ endorsement means Michigan and Wisconsin? Maybe O’Brian would rather work with a political ticket prioritizing the “forgotten man?" If so, he's got a formidable ally in Vance: an entrepreneur originating from humble beginnings with an authentic connection to blue collar workers. Whatever the case, it's obvious that Trump is not only building a new team, but a better one: one with breadth and range, covering all the bases, entrepreneurs, techies, and blue collar workers. One that is inclusive -- and smart.
Which is to say that MAGA finally has a real vision. It's not just about one man or two terms. It’s a long game, and one which Vance can prosecute extremely effectively once Trump's second term is up. He is, after all, the embodiment of the American dream, just as Trump is leading the American revival.
