Donald Trump has announced his running mate, Senator James David Vance.
The Republican National Convention is taking place in the United States. It officially nominated Donald Trump as the presidential candidate. Trump announced his running mate, Senator James David Vance.
Why Vance?
A native of Ohio, Vance gained attention with the release of his best-selling book Hillbilly Elegy, in which he recounts his blue-collar upbringing and how it shaped his politics and worldview. Thanks to his experience, Vance attracted white working-class voters who were reluctant to vote for Trump in 2016. Perhaps this was the calculation.
Vance criticized Trump in the run-up to the presidential race eight years ago — something Democrats will no doubt point to. In an interview, he called himself a “never-Trump guy.” That is, someone who is definitely against Trump. He also called the US President “American Hitler” and Trumpism the “opium of the masses.”
But after a few years, the opinion changed. In a summer 2021 interview with Fox News, he apologized. Since then, Vance has been a vocal defender of the former president, especially on television news networks. His recent honesty and effectiveness as a politician certainly influenced Trump’s decision.
According to Reuters, Vance is close to Trump in his views on foreign, domestic and economic policy: he is an isolationist and economic populist.
Importance for Ukraine
Vance is among a group of Republicans in Congress who have delayed American aid to Ukraine for six months. He and his colleagues believe that the United States should primarily focus on strengthening the southern border and fighting illegal immigration, as well as dealing with China.
Vance considers military aid to Ukraine in its opposition to Russian aggression inappropriate for America.
Among other things, he proposed that Kyiv declare neutral status, enter into negotiations with Russia, and be prepared to make territorial concessions. Ahead of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s visit to Washington in December 2023, Vance demanded that the White House acknowledge that Ukraine would eventually cede some of its territory to Russia.
It is worth noting that the vice presidential candidacy does not necessarily determine the policy of the future head of the White House regarding Ukraine. For example, in the Joe Biden administration, Kamala Harris was not involved in the Ukrainian direction. But Trump’s choice underscores the prevailing sentiment among those around him who are skeptical of support for Ukraine.
Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.