Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio says he is not lobbying to become President Donald Trump’s next vice president.
The first-term Republican is believed to be one of the final picks to fill the position formerly held by Mike Pence. During an appearance on Fox & Friends, Vance was asked about his potential future in the Trump administration.
“My attitude towards it is, if it comes to me, great. But it’s not something I’m going to lobby for,” said the 39-year-old, per The Hill. “I don’t think that’s the right attitude to take towards it, and you know maybe, Trump respects that. Maybe he doesn’t, but that’s ultimately his call.”
Vance gained national prominence with his 2016 memoir Hillbilly Elegy. The book recounts Vance’s challenging childhood, his roots in Appalachia, and the choices that led him to Yale Law School and the technology industry. The reflection on America’s relationship with class and culture was a national best-seller and sold over a million copies. The film adaptation was directed by Ron Howard and released in 2020.
The Ohio senator has support from other prominent Republican figures. In a piece published by The Federalist, Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk described Vance as Trump’s “ideal running mate.
“As a military veteran who grew up in a dysfunctional family in the exurbs of Cincinnati, Vance speaks to (and for) the 'Forgotten Man,' the working class, and the middle Americans of the Rust Belt who carried Trump to his shocking victory in 2016,” wrote Kirk. “Unlike Mike Pence before him, Vance is in full ideological alignment with Trump. Trump can delegate to Vance and his office without worrying his campaign promises will be ignored or betrayed.”
Still, Vance said the vice president is “ultimately Donald Trump’s decision” but that “if he asks me to serve, I will certainly do it.”
“There’s a lot of talented people to pick from. And look, I’m glad it’s not my decision because there are so many good people,” he said. “But as I’ve said to other people, I have not talked to Donald Trump about it. I’m very interested in helping him out whatever that looks like.”
Other contenders going through the vetting process include North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, Florida Senator Marco Rubio, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, former HUD Secretary Ben Carson, New York Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, Florida Congressman Byron Donald and Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton, according to Axios.
Trump’s campaign denied reports last week that Trump has already selected his 2024 running mate.
"Anyone claiming to know who or when President Trump will choose his VP is lying, unless the person is named Donald J. Trump," said Brian Hughes, a senior adviser for the campaign, per ABC News.
Trump is expected to publicly announce his choice for vice president before the Republican National Convention, which begins July 15.
