Trump formally named Republican candidate, picks Vance as running mate

Donald Trump has chosen 39-year-old Ohio Senator J.D. Vance to be his running mate, as the Republican Party officially nominated the former president to run again for the White House on Monday.

"After lengthy deliberation and thought, and considering the tremendous talents of many others, I have decided that the person best suited to assume the position of Vice President of the United States is Senator J.D. Vance of the Great State of Ohio," Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social.

Vance, who was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2022 and sworn into office in January 2023, was a fierce Trump critic in 2016 but has since become an ally of the former president.

U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday dismissed Trump's pick as a "clone." "A clone of Trump on the issues," Biden told reporters before flying to Nevada when asked about the Ohio senator. "I don't see any difference."

Trump, who survived an attempted assassination two days ago, garnered a majority of votes from delegates at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He reached the required threshold with votes from Florida, which were announced by his son Eric Trump.

Trump will lead the Republican Party through a third consecutive election, following his victory against Hillary Clinton in 2016 and his defeat to Biden in 2020.