In his inaugural speech, Vance also addressed the recent assassination attempt on Trump, emphasising the former president’s resilience and dedication to the nation….reports Asian Lite News
Sen JD Vance (R-Ohio) officially accepted the nomination as Donald Trump’s vice-presidential running mate during his keynote speech at the Republican National Convention on Wednesday.
“Tonight, Mr. Chairman, I stand here humbly, and I’m overwhelmed with gratitude to say I officially accept your nomination to be Vice President of the United States of America,” Vance said.
He hailed Trump in his speech, calling him “tough” and saying that he “cares about people.”
He also lauded Trump’s call for unity, saying “my message to you, my fellow Republicans, is we love this country and we are united to win.”
“I think our disagreements actually make us stronger,” he added.
In his inaugural speech, Vance also addressed the recent assassination attempt on Trump, emphasising the former president’s resilience and dedication to the nation.
“Look at that photo of him, defiant, fist in the air. When Donald Trump rose to his feet in that Pennsylvania field, all of America stood with him. And what did he call us to do for our country? To fight. To fight for America,” Vance said of Trump’s move to raise his fist and encourage his rally attendees to “fight.”
He highlighted a poignant moment from the assassination attempt on July 15, where a bullet grazed Trump’s ear during a rally in Pennsylvania. Vance described the iconic image of Trump raising his fist defiantly in the face of danger as a symbol of his unwavering commitment to America.
“Look at that photo of him, defiant, fist in the air,” Vance said, referring to the moment Trump stood up in the Pennsylvania field. “When Donald Trump rose to his feet in that Pennsylvania field, all of America stood with him. And what did he call us to do for our country? To fight. To fight for America.”
Vance praised Trump’s response to the assassination attempt as a testament to his leadership. “Even in his most perilous moment, we were on his mind. His instinct was for us … to call us to something higher,” Vance asserted.
He further reflected on the gravity of the situation, noting how the evening of celebration at the convention could have been overshadowed by tragedy. “As we meet tonight, we cannot forget that this evening could have been so much different. Instead of a day of celebration, this could have been a day of heartache and mourning.”
Vance lauded Trump for his dedication over the past eight years, despite facing significant personal and political adversity. “For the last 8 years, President Trump has given everything he has to fight for the people of our country. He didn’t need politics but the country needed him…Instead of choosing the easy path, he chose to endure abuse, slander and persecution. He did it because he loves this country.”
The senator continued to draw a contrast between Trump’s toughness and compassion, emphasising that Trump is capable of both fierce resistance and national healing. “He is tough but he cares about people. He can stand to fight against an assassin one moment and call for national healing the next.”
Trump, observing the speech from inside the arena, stood up to clap as Vance took the stage, signaling his approval of the 39-year-old senator from Ohio.
In his speech, Vance also outlined a vision for the future of Trump’s political movement, emphasising that Trump is looking to him to lead the party beyond his own presidency–a role Trump did not envision for his previous vice president, Mike Pence.
Vance’s speech was a blend of personal reflection and sharp political critique. He began by addressing the gravity of the day, reflecting on the recent assassination attempt on Trump and noting that “Tonight is a night of hope–a celebration of what America once was in with God’s grace, what it will soon be again.” He expressed that the evening could have been marked by “heartache and mourning” had the assassination attempt resulted in a tragedy.
Vance also took the opportunity to criticise President Joe Biden’s political record, drawing a stark contrast between Biden’s past decisions and Trump’s policies. He recounted how, when he was in high school, “a career politician by the name of Joe Biden supported NAFTA, a bad trade deal which sent countless good jobs to Mexico.”
He also pointed out Biden’s support for a trade deal with China and the Iraq War, claiming these actions led to job losses and conflict for American communities. Vance asserted, “Somehow, a real estate developer from New York City by the name of Donald J. Trump was right on all of these issues while Biden was wrong.”
At the convention, Usha Vance, the wife of Trump’s running mate, took the stage to share the story of their meeting at Yale Law School and to reflect on their personal backgrounds.
Kamala criticises Vance’s abortion stance
Vice President Kamala Harris sharply criticised Ohio Senator JD Vance’s position on abortion rights following his formal acceptance of the nomination as former President Donald Trump’s running mate for the upcoming presidential election.
Harris’s comments came in a statement where she condemned Vance’s alignment with what she described as the “extreme” Project 2025 plan, which she claims aims to impose nationwide restrictions on abortion.
“Make no mistake: If elected, J.D. Vance will help implement the extreme Project 2025 plan for a second Trump term, which outlines a plan to restrict access to contraception and ban abortion nationwide. We will stop them,” Harris said in a post on X.
This criticism comes in the wake of Vance’s recent statements where he has publicly aligned himself with Trump’s viewpoint that abortion should be governed by state laws rather than federal mandates. Despite this position, Vance’s past comments from January 2022 reveal a more stringent stance, as he expressed support for a national abortion ban and showed sympathy towards federal action to counteract state-level abortion rights, CNN reported.
At the time, Vance stated on a podcast, “I certainly would like abortion to be illegal nationally,” signaling his support for a broad federal ban to prevent women from traveling to states with more permissive abortion laws.
In a recent Fox News interview, however, Vance emphasised his support for Trump’s approach, which advocates for a decentralised strategy where states individually decide their abortion policies. “My view is that Donald Trump is the leader of the Republican Party, and his views on abortion are going to be the views that dominate this party and drive this party forward,” Vance said, advocating for a policy where states like Alabama and California could make divergent decisions on abortion.
The debate over abortion rights remains a contentious issue in US politics, especially in the wake of the Supreme Court’s 2022 Dobbs decision which overturned Roe v Wade and sparked a series of state-level legislative battles. The 2022 midterm elections highlighted a backlash against anti-abortion policies, with many Republican candidates suffering defeats due in part to their stances on abortion, as reported by CNN.
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