One of the finalists to become former President Donald Trump’s running mate has been spotted leaving his home in what observers said appears to be a motorcade of local police and U.S. government vehicles.
Two days after narrowly escaping an assassination attempt, President Trump might be instructing the Secret Service to go to the residence of Ohio Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH). The Daily Mail reported that on Sunday evening, “three black trucks with US government plates” were seen outside the Ohio Republican’s home. A prominent local Democrat posted on X that he witnessed a “number of official, secret service-like vehicles” and “two police cars parked outside JD Vance’s house this afternoon.”
Later, Fox News reported that the motorcade was ordered by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R). The Mail’s report about Sen. Vance potentially winning the vice presidency conflicted with a second report by NBC News. A source claimed that the increased protection has nothing to do with the Trump campaign. “A source familiar says it’s NOT Secret Service, not related to veepstakes and that the presence is strictly precautionary after yesterday,” wrote senior political reporter Henry Gomez, who said DeWine directed the extra security to Vance’s home following the attempt on Trump’s life.
???
JD VANCE @JDVance1 WAS JUST SPOTTED LEAVING OHIO IN A MOTORCADE! pic.twitter.com/JJCgQBDCsB
— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) July 15, 2024
That said, Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, the two remaining members of the reported shortlist, have not been reported to have received any recent special protection.
For his part, Vance has been a frequent presence on the campaign trail for Trump. He defended Trump throughout his various criminal trials and appeared in Manhattan as Trump sat through his conviction on 34 counts of corporate subterfuge related to a hush money payment.
Vance, the Ohio Senator known for his conservative stance and as the author of “Hillbilly Elegy,” has seen a sudden and dramatic rise in his odds of becoming Trump’s vice-presidential pick. His chances have skyrocketed by nearly 300%, positioning him as the frontrunner with a 31% probability of being selected, according to recent betting markets. This surge places Vance ahead of other potential candidates, according to a report last week.
During an interview with NBC News on Sunday, Vance clarified that he has not been approached by Trump to join his campaign as the vice presidential candidate. Despite being considered a top contender for Trump’s vice presidential slot, Vance confirmed, “I have not gotten the call,” and promised to notify the press if he does receive such an invitation.
Vance turned the discussion around on “Meet The Press” host Kristen Welker on Sunday after she inquired if the Ohio senator would endorse the “weaponization of the Department of Justice” should former President Donald Trump win re-election.
“The DOJ told Congress this week it reviewed all communication since Biden took office and found no contact between federal prosecutors and those involved with that case in New York,” Welker said. She referenced Vance’s past statements criticizing politically motivated prosecutions of former President Donald Trump. She then claimed there is “no evidence” of a weaponized DOJ under President Joe Biden. “If it’s not okay for Joe Biden to weaponize the Justice Department, as you say, which there’s no evidence of that, why is it okay for Donald Trump to do that?” Welker asked.
Without hesitation, Vance brought up the questionable hiring of Matthew Colangelo, who stepped down from a senior position at the Biden Department of Justice to take on a lower-level prosecutor role in Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office.
“Well, Kristen, first of all, you said that it happens all the time, that the number three person in the Department of Justice jumped ship to join a local prosecutor’s office to go after the president’s political opponent. I don’t think that’s ever happened in the history of American democracy, and I don’t think that we should legitimize it,” the freshman Ohio senator said. “Now, if Donald Trump’s attorney general had his number two or his number three jump ship to a local prosecutor’s office in Ohio or Wisconsin, and that person then went after Donald Trump’s political opposition, that’s a different conversation. All he’s suggesting is that we should investigate credible arguments of wrongdoing.” He added: “That’s all Donald Trump is saying. That is not a threat to democracy. That’s merely reinforcing our system of law and government.”
Disclaimer: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.