‘Thought They Had Killed Him’: JD Vance Says Trump Considered Announcing His VP Pick At Butler Rally

Republican Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance said Thursday Republican nominee Donald Trump considered announcing his vice presidential pick at the notorious rally in Butler, Pennsylvania in July.

Trump seriously considered choosing the Ohio senator as his vice presidential pick and about making the announcement at the then-upcoming rally on July 13, Vance told podcaster Joe Rogan. Vance did not accompany Trump to Butler after the former president decided against the idea, stating that they needed to plan out the vice presidential pick in more detail.

“He said ‘well, I think I’m probably going to pick you, but I don’t know and I’m not ready to make a decision,’” Vance said. “And then, he looks at one of his staff members who’s in the room and he’s like, ‘actually, wouldn’t it really set the world ablaze if we just made the decision today? And so why don’t you come up with me and we’ll just do the announcement in Butler, Pennsylvania?’ And I said, of course not knowing at the time what was going to happen, I was like ‘absolutely, let’s get this over with because I’m sick of not knowing, let’s just get this thing over with.’”

“And then he said, ‘ah, no, I’m not going to do it up there, we need to prepare for it better. So, look, I’m not saying it’s going to be you, but I’m thinking very seriously about it. Have fun, we’ll see you after Butler, ,’” Vance continued.

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The would-be assassin, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, climbed his way onto the rooftop of the American Glass Research (AGR) building at 6:08 p.m. and fired eight rounds into the crowd, injuring Trump in the upper portion of his right ear. The shooting killed 50-year-old