Pressure mounts for Donald Trump to replace J.D. Vance

Could Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump replace J.D. Vance as his running mate?
Trump hand-picked Vance to be his vice presidential running mate in July, but after a series of gaffes — including Vance’s statements on childless cat ladies; claims that Minnesota Gov. and Kamala Harris’ running mate Tim Walz is benefitting from “stolen valor;” the never-ending couch sex joke that has dogged Vance on the campaign trail; and the photos allegedly showing Vance in drag while a student at Yale — may be forcing Trump to make consider a switch with just weeks before the election.
But would Trump actually make a switch? Here’s where things stand with the Trump-Vance ticket.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suspended his presidential campaign in late August and officially endorsed Donald Trump.
Earlier in August, it appeared the Trump campaign sought to help Vance move past those controversies by focusing on issues such as the border that resonate with the GOP base.
Republican allies outside the Trump campaign are downplaying their 2024 presidential nominee’s recent statements about his Democratic rival and her race as they move into damage control mode with less than 100 days until Election Day. Some in the party are genuinely concerned, though.
For his part, Vance must avoid “losing President Trump’s confidence,” said Marc Short, who served as chief of staff for former Vice President Mike Pence. “(Trump) forms opinions quickly too, so I think that’s probably a bigger risk.”
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At one point, RFK Jr. emerged as an option to replace J.D. Vance.
But RFK Jr. has since announced that instead of seeking the vice presidential nomination, he was promised a position within a Trump Administration, should Donald Trump win the election.
Trump passed over Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum in selecting Vance, and those officials, along with RFK Jr., make up the likely pool of individuals that Trump could pivot to in replacing Vance.
However, it may be too late for Trump make such a move.
According to a separate published report, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the ballot access deadline is September 1 for Ohio, meaning that Trump would only have between now and the Labor Day weekend to make the switch.
Damon C. Williams is a Philadelphia-based journalist reporting on trending topics across the Mid-Atlantic Region.