Trump taps former critic J.D. Vance as vice-presidential candidate

Trump revealed his choice on Monday, stating that Senator J.D. Vance from Ohio will be the vice-presidential candidate. Vance is more than just a senator, as noted by cincinnati.com. He is also an investor and a bestselling author, having accumulated a significant fortune.

According to "Celebrity Net Worth," which cites his financial statement, J.D. Vance's fortune is estimated at around $5 million, equivalent to 19.5 million PLN.

Vance's investments include Walmart shares valued at around $100,000. The potential vice president also owns bitcoins valued at $250,000. He also holds assets in Goldman Sachs and shares in the QQQ Exchange Traded Fund, with a combined value of another $2 million.

The total estimated value of Vance's investments is around $5.6 million. Additionally, the portal mentions that the Republican not only receives a senator's salary but also royalties from his autobiography "Hillbilly Elegy," earning $475,000 in 2021. Notably, the book was adapted into a Netflix film in 2020.

As a senator, J.D. Vance earns an annual salary of $174,000, which translates to a monthly salary of $14,500 (56,000 PLN). If Trump wins and Vance becomes vice president, his salary will increase to $19,500 (76,000 PLN) per month.

Vance entered the political scene in 2020. From the beginning, he was mentioned among the favorites for potential vice-presidential candidates, although before the 2016 election, he sharply criticized Trump, claiming he could become "America's Hitler."

Previously a financier, Vance is now one of the former president's most ardent supporters and a leader of the party's populist wing. Since taking the Senate seat, he has also become one of the loudest opponents of aid to Ukraine, stating during one interview that he "doesn't care" what happens to Kyiv. On his path to the Senate, the senator defeated representatives of the party's traditional wing, including Senators Marco Rubio and Tim Scott and Governor Doug Burgum. Vance reportedly had support from the president's son, Donald Jr.

Trump's choice was criticized by President Biden's campaign team, which portrayed Vance as an extremist who would seek to completely strip women of their right to abortion. Democrats also recalled that Vance previously stated he would not have certified the results of the 2020 election.

The extreme wing of the Republicans spread misinformation about the 2020 election results, leading to the Capitol riots on January 6, 2021. In August of last year, a grand jury in Washington indicted Trump on four charges, accusing him of illegal actions to overturn the election he lost.