A NBC News report claims that former President Donald Trump's sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump talked the former president into picking Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), after he was about to choose North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.
"With the clock ticking to the Republican National Convention last week, Donald Trump met privately to discuss his running mate search with two of his closest advisers: his sons," NBC writes. "The conversation quickly turned tense when the former president indicated that he was leaning toward Doug Burgum, until recently the largely unknown governor of North Dakota — but someone whose low-maintenance, no-drama personality would never threaten to outshine Trump."
According to NBC, that's when Trump's sons interceded.
“Don Jr. and Eric went bats--- crazy: ‘Why would you do something so stupid? He offers us nothing,’” a purported longtime GOP operative familiar told NBC News.
“They were basically all like ‘JD, JD, JD,’” the operative said.
Trump chose Sen. Vance on Monday afternoon as his VP pick.
Vance, 39, is a politician, author and former venture capitalist who currently serves as the junior United States Senator from Ohio. He rose to prominence with his bestselling memoir "Hillbilly Elegy" which recounted his upbringing in a working-class family in Middletown, Ohio and Jackson, Kentucky. The book explored issues of social mobility, family dysfunction, and the plight of the white working class in America.
A Republican, Vance is a strong supporter of Donald Trump and received the former president's endorsement during his successful 2022 Senate campaign in Ohio. Despite initially being critical of Trump, Vance embraced Trumpism and campaigned on issues like restricting immigration and taking a hard stance against large tech companies. His victory marked a rise in stature for the young conservative leader.
Prior to entering politics, Vance served in the U.S. Marine Corps and later worked as a venture capitalist in Silicon Valley after graduating from Yale Law School. His background growing up in the Rust Belt region of Ohio and overcoming family struggles with poverty and substance abuse gave him a unique perspective that appealed to many disaffected working-class voters.
