Former President Donald Trump has made headlines by stating that Senator JD Vance, his running mate for the 2024 election, will have “virtually no impact” on the outcome of the election.
Trump and Vance secured the GOP presidential and vice-presidential nominations at the recent Republican National Convention. This occurred shortly before Vice President Kamala Harris emerged as the likely Democratic nominee, following President Joe Biden’s exit from the race.
Since the convention, Vance has faced significant criticism from both sides of the political aisle. Recent polls indicate that his approval ratings as a vice-presidential candidate are unusually low. Despite this, Trump remains steadfast in his support, claiming that Vance has been “very well received” by the public.
At the National Association of Black Journalists conference in Chicago, Trump was asked by Fox News host Harris Faulkner if Vance would be prepared to take on presidential duties if necessary. Trump responded that historically, vice-presidents do not significantly sway elections.
Trump said, “I’ve always had great respect for him and for the other candidates, too,” while sidestepping the question about Vance’s readiness. He added, “Historically, the choice of the vice president makes no difference. You’re voting for the president.” He believes that a great vice-presidential candidate, like Vance, won’t change the vote.
The Harris campaign quickly capitalized on Trump’s comments, sharing a clip to X (formerly Twitter) that highlighted his reluctance to affirm Vance’s readiness. A recent Yahoo News/YouGov poll showed that 38% of Americans believe Vance isn’t ready to step in as president if needed, compared to only 29% who disagree.