Republicans embraced JD Vance as Donald Trump’s potential running mate during a night focused on criticizing President Joe Biden’s leadership on the global stage. The 39-year-old senator from Ohio was anticipated to accept the vice presidential nomination late on Wednesday, highlighting his background as a son of Appalachia and emphasizing Trump’s connection with Americans who feel marginalized socially, economically, and politically. Despite the talk of Vance as a new face for the “Make America Great Again” movement, the Republican National Convention’s Day 3 programming underscored that Trump and his “America First” agenda continue to shape the party’s direction in 2024.
Throughout the night, discussion veered into culture wars, and following minimal references to the January 6 events, former adviser Peter Navarro was hailed as a hero just hours after his release from prison for defying a congressional subpoena related to Trump’s supporters’ assault on Capitol Hill. Meanwhile, the event served as a reminder that Biden is not the only older candidate withholding details about his health, particularly significant in light of Trump surviving a recent assassination attempt.
Day 3 of the RNC highlighted that while JD Vance was in the spotlight, the convention still revolved around Trump, with speakers passionately emphasizing their support for the former president. Furthermore, the programming departed from the silence surrounding the January 6 attacks as Navarro, fresh from prison, delivered a speech portraying Democrats as a corrupt party while drawing attention to the legal challenges facing Trump and his associates.
The night also featured rhetoric focusing on culture wars and immigration issues, with former administration officials criticizing the Biden administration and underscoring differences between the two administrations on these fronts. The absence of discussions on abortion during the convention was noted, showing a concerted effort to energize Trump’s core supporters while potentially alienating moderate voters.
Lastly, Trump’s former White House physician, Ronny Jackson, criticized Biden’s health but refrained from commenting on Trump’s well-being, despite the latter’s recent security scare. The focus on Biden’s health and age contrasts with Trump, who at 78 is only a few months younger than Biden was when he accepted the Democratic nomination in 2020, raising questions about the age-related critiques within the ongoing political discourse.
