Former President Donald Trump has announced Sen. JD Vance of Ohio as his running mate for the 2024 presidential election. Vance, a former critic turned loyal ally, becomes the first millennial to join a major-party ticket, addressing concerns about the advanced age of America’s political leaders.

“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 stated on his Truth Social network.

Vance, 39, gained national recognition with his 2016 memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy.” He was elected to the Senate in 2022 and has since emerged as a strong supporter of Trump’s “Make America Great Again” agenda, particularly on issues of trade, foreign policy, and immigration.

However, Vance is relatively inexperienced in national politics and joins the Trump ticket at a tumultuous time. The campaign has been shaken by an attempted assassination of Trump at a rally on Saturday, highlighting the volatile nature of current political discourse and the critical importance of those next in line for the presidency.

Following the assassination attempt, Vance faced backlash for a post on X (formerly Twitter) where he suggested that President Joe Biden was to blame for the violence. “The central premise of the Biden campaign is that President Donald Trump is an authoritarian fascist who must be stopped at all costs,” Vance wrote. “That rhetoric led directly to President Trump’s attempted assassination.”

The Republican National Convention, where Trump and Vance will formally accept their nominations, will be streamed live. This selection marks a significant moment in the campaign as the Trump-Vance ticket moves forward amidst heightened security and intense scrutiny.