JD Vance slammed the “dishonest” media on Wednesday as he held his first campaign fundraiser since joining Trump.
He demonstrated the qualities of an attack dog that impressed Donald Trump before about 200 supporters gathered at a science center on the shores of Lake Michigan.
“The media keeps saying they want someone who can turn the heat down,” he said.
“Well, Donald Trump got shot and he turned the heat down. That’s what a real leader does.”
Wednesday is Vice Presidential Day. Later that evening, he will be a primetime guest and deliver the big speech of the day at the Republican convention, launching himself to the American public.
Donald Trump’s running mate, Senator J.D. Vance, spoke at a fundraising event on Wednesday. He will deliver a prime-time address later in the day as the campaign introduces him to the nation
Though he’s known for his fiery defense of Trump and his hardcore MAGA views, the speech will introduce him to a broader audience. He’s expected to detail his military service — he was a Marine who served in Iraq — and talk about his family and his difficult upbringing.
But first, the VIP event took place at Discovery World in Milwaukee, where guests were served Maine lobster rolls and crab-artichoke dip.
Vance brought memories of his humble background as he performed the banjo bluegrass of Merle Haggard’s “America First.”
He said he had to be careful not to give out any details about the big speech that evening.
“I joked with the president that I’m really excited about tonight, and I hope I don’t blow it, but if I do, it’ll be too late. He made the bet, right? It’s official now,” he said, laughing.
“I’m going to go out there tonight and try to get this crowd fired up and make the point, a very easy point to make but an important point to make, that we need to re-elect President Donald J. Trump to the White House.”
He promised to hang around for selfies and chat with his supporters after his speech, then politely apologized to a handful of journalists in the back of the room before launching into his attack.
“The media is lying more aggressively and slanderously about a man who just keeps going,” he said.
“He continues to persevere. He continues to fight. President Trump has endured everything they’ve thrown at him.”
Saturday’s shooting, he said, highlighted the difference between the media caricature and the real man.
Wednesday is Veep Day. Vance will be giving the big speech at the Republican convention in Milwaukee later today. His wife Usha will also be giving a speech
Vance will address delegates Wednesday night. He is seen here during a walkthrough on Tuesday, surveying the podium and lectern in the Fiserv Forum
Vendors did a healthy trade in merchandise at the convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Vance was approved 48 hours later, defeating the more experienced Senator Marcgo Rubio of Florida and Governor Doug Burgum of North Dakota.
Since then it has been a week full of new experiences.
Within hours, Trump’s campaign released an image of his name plastered on the side of a plane, under the former president’s branding.
His security team has been beefed up. Black SUVs with government plates were seen outside his home early this week.
And on Monday, he walked into the convention hall, shortly after being named Trump’s running mate, to a raucous reception from party loyalists.
Trump campaign aide Jason Miller posted an image of Vance decals being applied to a plane
Vance with Trump at the Fiserv Forum on Tuesday night before listening to former rivals Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis speak at the convention
Vance’s difficult upbringing, the son of an addicted mother in southern Ohio, is a message that resonates across much of the American heartland, but he is little known outside his home state.
His wife Usha, the daughter of immigrants from India, will also speak on behalf of Trump’s campaign team in what is effectively the hard launch of their vice presidential pick.
Vance has no political experience and was only elected to the Senate two years ago.
But the Yale Law School graduate has a lot of intellectual chops and is seen as the kind of vice president who can help build Trump’s instinctive politics with a philosophical framework.
Vance’s close bond with Trump’s eldest son Don Jr. and his smooth TV appearances helped him get the role.
