Ohio Senator J.D. Vance shared on Thursday’s episode of The Joe Rogan Experience that he was close to joining former President Donald Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where an assassination attempt occurred on July 13.
In a three-hour discussion with Joe Rogan, Vance, a freshman senator and vice-presidential nominee, reflected on a prior meeting with Trump at Mar-a-Lago, where they discussed Vance joining Trump’s ticket. Vance recounted Trump’s suggestion to announce the decision at the Butler rally, which was ultimately delayed to allow for proper preparation.
JD Vance tells Rogan how he was almost announced as Trump's VP pick at the Butler, PA rally pic.twitter.com/8Nt5XAT2Ly
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) October 31, 2024
Instead of attending the rally, Vance returned to Ohio, where he took his children mini-golfing. It was then he heard reports of the assassination attempt, which he initially believed had been successful. “I actually thought they had killed him,” Vance recalled, describing the shock he felt watching footage of Trump grabbing his ear and falling to the ground.
Vance immediately went into “fight or flight” mode, rushing his children home and standing guard at his door, armed. He expressed astonishment at the shooter’s proximity to Trump, flabbergasted that the gunman managed to evade the Secret Service until the last possible moment.
“I’m a pretty good shot. I served in the Marine Corps for four years. An AR-15 from 140 yards away is a pot shot,” Vance remarked, expressing amazement that Trump emerged largely unscathed.
The senator also raised concerns about law enforcement’s handling of the case, including investigators’ inability or unwillingness to disclose the shooter’s motive. “Obviously, he hates Donald Trump, but you don’t know anything about the secondary motive,” Vance pointed out.
Joe Rogan and JD Vance talk about the mystery surrounding would be Trump assassin Thomas Matthew Crooks
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) October 31, 2024
Vance: "When there's a school shooter we have the person's manifesto a day or two later. We know nothing about the motive here. It is weird." pic.twitter.com/PvBk7M6RET
In the podcast, Vance later criticized President Biden for a remark where he labeled Trump supporters as “garbage.” He joked that Biden’s actions seemed more like an effort to bolster Trump’s support rather than hinder it.
“We’re gonna win, but after we win, I’m going to be convinced that Joe Biden was trying to help us the whole time,” Vance said with a laugh, noting that Biden had even made headlines during a 9/11 memorial visit in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, wearing a MAGA hat.
Readers can view the full episode of Vance’s appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience here:
READ NEXT: Meet Everyone Who Lied: Secret Biden Pact Finally Laid Bare!
