MICHIGAN, USA: Former President Donald Trump and Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) made their debut as the Republican presidential ticket in Michigan on Saturday. During their rally in Grand Rapids, Vance immediately took aim at Vice President Kamala Harris.
“It’s been an incredible week, being asked by President Trump to serve as his running mate,” Vance said early in his speech. “But there’s some bad news. The vice president – Kamala Harris – doesn’t like me. I have no allegiance to this nation, she declared. Well, I founded a business and was a member of the US Marine Corps. Apart from getting a check, what else has she done?
This rally marked the first joint campaign appearance of Trump and Vance since Trump announced Vance as his vice-presidential pick at the Republican National Convention. Harris had criticized Vance shortly after his selection, stating in North Carolina that Vance’s story was incomplete and avoiding discussions on “Project 2025,” a controversial plan for Trump’s potential second term. Harris described the plan as “extreme and divisive.”
The Michigan rally also came a week after Trump survived an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania. Trump was shot in the ear but quickly returned to the campaign trail. His return was marked by strong rhetoric and critiques of the Democratic Party, including President Joe Biden and Vice President Harris.
Trump’s choice of Vance, a Marine Corps veteran and businessman, aims to appeal to voters in critical Rust Belt states like Michigan and Pennsylvania. Vance’s direct approach and military background contrast sharply with Harris, setting the stage for a heated vice-presidential contest.
The rally in Grand Rapids was an opportunity for the Republican base to witness the new ticket in action. As the campaign progresses, the dynamic between Trump, Vance, and their Democratic opponents will be closely watched, particularly in swing states that could determine the election’s outcome.
