The former President Donald Trump announced Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH) as his Vice President running mate on Monday, following months of speculation. Donald Trump Jr. calls JD Vance "an incredible pick" moments after his father selected the Ohio senator as his VP running mate."His story, his background really helps us in a lot of places we're going to need from an electoral college standpoint." pic.twitter.com/jsNtkhnN0L— The American Conservative (@amconmag) July 15, 2024 Vance, 39, not only brings youth to the ticket but also populist ideological bonafides to bolster Trump’s campaign. Trump’s son, Don Jr., was a vocal advocate for Vance in the final run-up to the announcement as other VP hopefuls including Gov. Doug Burgum (R-ND) and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fl) faded. The selection by Trump solidifies Vance as the ideological heir to the MAGA doctrine going forward. Should the Trump ticket win in November, Vance would become the 50th Vice President of the United States and one of the youngest.  Vance’s early life was the premise of his bestselling memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, which tracks his life from growing-up in poverty, to joining the Marine Corps (where he fought in Iraq), to getting accepted into Yale Law School. Vance cites his time in the Marines and service in the Iraq War as a catalyst for his skepticism about U.S. foreign policy adventurism. Vance is known for his populist domestic policies and a realist view on foreign policy. Vance has consistently questioned further U.S. aid to Ukraine, and opposed calls for escalation with Iran last October. In May, Vance spoke at a conference hosted by The American Conservative and the Quincy Institute, where he spoke about the harmony of Christian morality and foreign policy restraint.  VP candidate JD Vance called for de-escalation last October as other political figures ramped up calls against Iran:"If they hit us, we have to hit them back… but an attack on the Iranian mainland is a significant escalation and a mistake."pic.twitter.com/zCcxcfYaH0— The American Conservative (@amconmag) July 15, 2024 Vance has found bipartisan appeal, working across the aisle on many populist initiatives, such as the 2023 rail safety bill with Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), John Fetterman (D-PA), Bob Casey (D-PA), Josh Hawley (R-MO), and Marco Rubio.  The post Trump Picks Vance for VP appeared first on The American Conservative.