J.D. Vance makes first appearance at RNC as Donald Trump's VP running mate

July 15 (UPI) -- Former President Donald Trump named Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance as his running mate for the presidential election as the Republican National Convention began in Milwaukee on Monday.

Vance, 39, made his first appearance on the convention floor at 3:50 p.m., local time, and made the rounds with his wife, Usha Chilukuri, as the crowd chanted "J.D.!" Vance, who did not speak to reporters, shook hands and greeted supporters as he was officially nominated as the GOP vice presidential nominee by Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted.

Trump, who had been expected to make the announcement of his vice presidential candidate at 3:30 p.m. CT, took to Truth Social to name Vance earlier in the day during the convention's state roll call.

"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," Trump wrote.

Trump went on to list Vance's credentials, including his service in the U.S. Marine Corps. He said Vance "will be strongly focused on the people he fought so brilliantly for."

"As Vice President, J.D. will continue to fight for our Constitution, stand with our Troops, and will do everything he can to help me MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN," Trump posted.

Vance was a critic of Trump before turning into an ally. Before Trump was elected in 2016, Vance described himself as a "Never Trump guy" and even referred to the former president as "Hitler."

Vance, who spoke with Charlie Rose in a 2016 interview while publicizing his memoir "Hillbilly Elegy," which chronicled his upbringing in Middletown, Ohio, said "I never liked him."

"As somebody who doesn't like Trump, myself, I sort of -- I understand where Trump's voters come from," Vance said in 2016. "But I also don't like Trump himself, and that made me realize that maybe I'm not quite part of either world totally."

Since then, the Ohio Senator has said he regrets his past criticism. Vance received Trump's endorsement in the Republican primary in 2021 before he was elected to the Senate, calling Trump a great president.

Vance, who has been accused by Democrats of being an election denier, was asked recently if he would accept the results of the election.

"If it's a free and fair election," Vance told CNN's Dana Bash in May, "I'll accept the results."

If elected, Vance would become one of the youngest vice presidents in history. He won his Senate seat in 2022.

Vice President Kamala Harris congratulated Vance in a message, according to a Biden-Harris campaign official who spoke to the Washington Post.

In a fundraising email, shortly before he was announced as Trump's vice presidential running mate, Vance wrote, "I think so many politicians are lost in the establishment."

"They fail their constituents, their country and ultimately -- they fail themselves. It's an industry of broken promises and corrupt practices," Vance added. "But I will never stoop to that level. My roots -- my family -- my hometown -- are what got me here. The good and the bad."

Trump, who is in Milwaukee but has not made an appearance following Saturday's failed assassination attempt, had considered other vice presidential picks including Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., and former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, according to CBS News, NBC News and The New York Times.

Trump, who earned 2,387 delegate votes Monday, was formally named the party's nominee for president during the convention. This comes two days after a failed assassination attempt at his rally in Pennsylvania where an attendee and the shooter were killed.