COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio State Highway Patrol is providing security for U.S. Senator and top vice president contender J.D. Vance after former President Donald Trump survived an apparent assassination attempt Saturday.
Gov. Mike DeWine "approved" a request for security Saturday at 6:40 p.m., according to the governor's spokesperson, Dan Tierney. Vance lives on the east side of Cincinnati, where troopers are monitoring his home.
When asked who requested the details, Tierney responded that he couldn't comment further. OSHP also couldn't elaborate.
"For safety reasons, the Patrol does not discuss specific details related to security operations," Lt. Ray Santiago said.
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The 39-year-old Republican businessman and author is one of the frontrunners in getting the coveted running-mate position with Trump.
Trump was shot in the ear during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania but said he was doing fine. One person in the crowd was killed, and two other people are in critical condition, according to the Butler County District Attorney.
The violence comes just a day before the Republican National Convention is set to begin in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Our Scripps News political team is in Milwaukee and reports security is being ramped up inside the Fiserv Forum, an arena in Downtown Milwaukee where the RNC is set to take place starting this week.
Authorities say 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, was responsible for the attack. The Associated Press reported that law enforcement said they found bomb-making materials in the suspect's vehicle and home, located in a suburb outside of Pittsburgh about an hour away from where the rally took place.
Vance blamed President Joe Biden for the attempted assassination, writing on X:
"Today is not just some isolated incident. The central premise of the Biden campaign is that President Donald Trump is an authoritarian fascist who must be stopped at all costs. That rhetoric led directly to President Trump's attempted assassination."
President Joe Biden addressed America and the world from the Oval Office Sunday night stating that violence is never the answer and we must heal together as a country.
RELATED: Biden calls for America to come together after Trump assassination attempt
Vance was with the former president at a $50,000-a-person private fundraiser in Indian Hill back in May.
In addition to being the guest of honor at Trump's fundraiser in the Tri-State, Vance was in New York City during his criminal hush money trial. Some political experts believe Vance could be auditioning to be Trump's running mate.
"He certainly fits the Trump model of politics but he doesn't bring you anything that you don't already have," said David Niven, University of Cincinnati political science professor.
The Hamilton County GOP released a statement highlighting Vance's achievements and noting his "alignment with Trump's vision ... makes him an excellent choice for Vice President."
Niven said if Trump picks Vance as his VP, it would go against the traditional strategy to win the November election.
"The wisdom was to try and choose a vice presidential candidate who could gain you some votes that you couldn't get yourself who could maybe help you win a state you wouldn't otherwise win and JD Vance is certainly not in that category," Niven said. "But what you're seeing in everybody right now closely connected to Trump, it's not about balance at all, it's about Trump, it's about the relationship with Trump it's about total loyalty to Trump."
