Trump Picks Catholic Convert and Ohio Senator As Running Mate

The Republican National Convention got underway on July 15th in Milwaukee despite the assassination attempt on Former President Donald J. Trump by a mentally ill lone gunman during a political rally in Butler, PA that took place on July 13th. Former President Trump was able to cruise to an easy nomination victory. To win, he needed support from 1225 delegates who were present during the roll call. He received every nomination without opposition.

Upon receiving the official nomination, Trump announced his pick for VP. James David “J.D.” Vance, a freshman senator from Ohio was picked by Trump to be his running mate. According to Trump’s social media post, Vance “honorably served our Country in the Marine Corps, graduated from Ohio State University in two years, Summa Cum Laude, and is a Yale Law School Graduate, where he was Editor of The Yale Law Journal and President of the Yale Law Veterans Association.”

Should Trump win in November, Vance will be the first Millennial to be elected Vice President of the United States.

When news broke of Vance’s selection to run with Trump, there was much news buzzing around this young politician, so here are five facts about JD Vance.

CONVERTED TO CATHOLICISM IN 2019

After discovering the truth about Catholicism, Vance came home in 2019 while living in Cincinnati, OH. He took the name of Augustine as his confirmation saint because he read his works. According to Rod Dreher, Vance converted because he “became persuaded over time that Catholicism was true” and had observed that the people who meant the most to him were Catholic.

His Wife Is Hindu

Usha Chilukuri Vance is not Christian but Hindu. Her roots can be traced to South India, yet she was born in California. Vance met his future spouse just after college graduation. Despite her parents raising her Hindu, they supported her marrying JD and his conversion to the Catholic Church. Usha clerked for John Roberts and Brett Kavanaugh respectively.  

Will Usha find her way home to Rome like her husband? Time will tell.

Vance Is a Marine

In addition to millennial status as the next vice president, he could also be the first marine to be elected Vice President. After all, the Army and Navy were represented respectively in the Oval Office. It’s time to send in the Marines.

Vance served in the United States Marine Corps from 2003 (after he graduated from high school) until 2007. His time in the corps included a six-month stint in Iraq in late 2005. His record shows that he served with the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in North Carolina.

“It was the Marine Corps that first gave me an opportunity to truly fail, made me take that opportunity, and then, when I did fail, gave me another chance anyway,” Vance recalled in the Stars and Stripe article.

Published Author

Vance wrote a memoir about his time growing up called “Hillbilly Elegy”. The book which was later made into a movie recalls Vance recalls his upbringing in Kentucky and Ohio. It also covers the topic of poverty and how it helped him grow as a man. The book is available for purchase here.

Catholic Teaching Influenced His Path Home

Often, people who joined the Catholic Church would share what brought them home to Rome. For Vance, it was the public policy that he saw was so in line with Catholic social teachings.

“I saw a real overlap between what I would like to see and what the Catholic Church would like to see. I hope my faith makes me more compassionate and to identify with people who are struggling.” Vance reflected. “Part of social conservatism’s challenge for viability in the 21st century is that it can’t just be about issues like abortion, but it has to have a broader vision of political economy and the common good." 

Vance has received chastisements from the social conservatives for his support of abortion pills. If he and Trump can allow pro-lifers to stay in the big tent, the pro-life laws passed during the first Trump Administration can only get even stronger and in time change their position.

Please pray for Trump/Vance as they keep their eye on DC and help America rise from its knees.