Recent X postings on Political Wire make it pretty clear Trump is picking Vance:
Ohioans are already unhappy about the way Vance immediately blamed Biden for the assassination attempt on Trump. Vance’s sycophancy is showing as he blames Biden for attempted assassination of Trump (LTE). Vance blamed Biden for Trump shooting. That’s unbecoming for US senator – and VP | Opinion
But Vance has perfected the art of sucking up to Trump, which is all that matters to the Malignant Mousselini [sic!].
Vance is also a worse disaster (if such a thing is possible) than the Great Orange Shiitgibbon. He is openly embracing Project 2025, unilke Trump who is being cagey about it. 'Good ideas': Trump V.P. hopeful promotes Project 2025 as ex-president claims no knowledge (3 days ago):
Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) doesn't want his party to back off of Project 2025 — in fact, he told conservative talk show host Rob Shmitt, it's a platform that has some good ideas in it.
Is There Something More Radical than MAGA? J.D. Vance Is Dreaming It. (Mar 15):
In certain conservative circles, Vance has emerged as the standard-bearer of the “New Right,” a loose movement of young, edgy and elite conservatives trying to take the ideological revolution that began under Trump — including his overt embrace of nationalism, his hard-line stance on immigration, his vocal opposition of U.S. involvement in foreign conflicts like Ukraine and his overt skepticism toward certain liberal democratic principles — in an even more radical direction. Unlike Trump’s more conventional Republican followers, Vance’s New Right cohort see Trump as merely the first step in a broader populist-nationalist revolution that is already reshaping the American right — and, if they get their way, that will soon reshape America as a whole.
If Trump has indeed picked Vance, he may be making a big mistake on a personal level. The forces behind Trump are using him for their own ends, but I think they know they can’t really trust Trump: he is transactional, unpredictable, and not really religious at all — he just plays one on TV. Vance is the real article, more intellectual, and more focused on where he wants the country to go (a theocracy) than Trump, who just wants to steal as much as he can and stay out of jail. If Trump/Vance wins in November, how long might it be before Trump is quietly (or not so quietly) nudged off the stage so a true believer can take over?
And it is now official:
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. J.D. honorably served our Country in the Marine Corps, graduated from Ohio State University in two years, Summa Cum Laude, and is a Yale Law School Graduate, where he was Editor of The Yale Law Journal, and President of the Yale Law Veterans Association. J.D.’s book, “Hillbilly Elegy,” became a Major Best Seller and Movie, as it championed the hardworking men and women of our Country. J.D. has had a very successful business career in Technology and Finance, and now, during the Campaign, will be strongly focused on the people he fought so brilliantly for, the American Workers and Farmers in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Minnesota, and far beyond….
PS: Someone wrote that for Trump, obviously.
Another update 12:40 PT: The Biden campaign wasted no time at all in coming out swinging against Vance: The Biden campaign plans to label Trump’s running mate JD Vance as 'extreme'
Now that Donald Trump has announced Sen. JD Vance as his running mate, the Biden campaign is prepared to paint the Ohio Republican as “extreme” and merely an extension of the Republican presumptive nominee’s own positions and record, according to two people familiar with the re-election effort’s thinking.
Also, Trump has been trying to downplay GOP extremism on abortion because he knows how unpopular it is. But now he has picked Vance, who outdoes everyone in his extremism:
JD Vance, Trump’s VP pick, has opposed abortion and LGBTQ+ rights
Trump VP finalist JD Vance under scrutiny for past abortion comments
(although supposedly he’s also been toning down lately — which means we have to tone them back up again.)
In short, rather than trying to broaden his appeal, Trump is sticking to his base. Which gives us another line of attack.