Reports on social media reveal that family members of vice presidential candidate JD Vance are currently under strict instructions not to engage with the press.
Sharing his encounter at the JD Vance rally in Middletown, Mike Dardis, an anchor at Cincinnati’s WLWT, mentioned meeting Vance’s mother and sister. He noted that they expressed immense pride but mentioned their inability to converse with the media on that day.
The Ohio senator, who recently assumed the role of Trump’s running mate, made an appearance at a campaign rally in his hometown of Middletown and is slated to host an event in Radford, Virginia, later in the day.
These rallies mark Vance’s initial independent appearances on the campaign trail following his VP selection announcement by Trump during the Republican National Convention last week. The events also unfold in the aftermath of President Joe Biden exiting the presidential race and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee.
“President Trump and I are geared up to uplift America, irrespective of the top Democrat candidate,” Vance tweeted energetically on Sunday. “We’re ready for any challenge.”
Accompanied by his mother, Bev, at the convention in Milwaukee, Vance’s emotional tribute to her and her journey of overcoming addiction during his acceptance speech garnered a warm reception from the audience.
The author of Hillbilly Elegy, Vance’s candid narrative of his turbulent upbringing in eastern Kentucky and his family background portrayed in his memoir has garnered nationwide attention since its publication in 2016. Venturing into politics merely three years ago, Vance claimed the Senate seat previously held by Rob Portman in 2022 by defeating Democratic nominee Tim Ryan with 53 percent of the votes.
Vance aims to leverage his life story to resonate with voters in the Rust Belt and support the Trump campaign. Nevertheless, he faces criticism, notably from Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, regarding his depiction of Appalachian communities.
Beshear, being considered as a potential VP choice for Harris, criticized Vance sharply on Monday. “Let’s set the record straight on what defines a Kentuckian, as JD Vance does not embody that,” Beshear remarked.
Voicing his disdain on MSNBC’s Morning Joe, Beshear defended the hardworking essence of Kentuckians, especially those in eastern Kentucky, emphasizing their pivotal role in shaping history and dismissing Vance’s stereotypical characterization of them as lazy.