Republican VP Hopeful JD Vance Shows Up at Court for Trump

‘I’m now convinced the main goal of this trial is psychological torture. But Trump is in great spirits,’ Mr. Vance said.

Republican Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio, seen as a potential pick to be former President Donald Trump’s 2024 vice presidential running mate, appeared alongside President Trump in a Manhattan court on Monday during Mr. Trump’s “hush money” trial.

Mr. Vance was seen entering the courthouse with the former president on Monday, as part of his entourage, while President Trump’s former attorney-turned-enemy, Michael Cohen, took the stand to testify.

The race for the vice presidential spot has heated up in recent weeks, as Mr. Vance and others have been portrayed as auditioning for the spot after appearing at a recent event at President Trump’s home and club Mar-a-Lago in Florida.

In addition to Mr. Vance, names such as Republican South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, former Trump cabinet member Dr. Ben Carson, and former Democrat congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, now an Independent, have been mentioned.

Later this week, Mr. Vance is also expected to join President Trump on the campaign trail for a fundraiser in Cincinnati.

Also joining Mr. Vance on Monday at the courthouse were Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) and Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.).

Vance on New York Trial

Mr. Vance spoke about the trial he witnessed in person on Monday during an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday, May 12.

“The only thing that Alvin Bragg, the New York prosecutors team thinks Donald Trump did wrong, is that he ran for President 2024 and he looks to be on the cusp of victory,” Mr. Vance told CNN’s Dana Bash. “That is the only thing that this is ultimately about. If you look at the underlying argument of the case, they can’t even identify what it is that Donald Trump did. They said he committed a paperwork violation in the service of a crime, but they won’t even specify the crime that he allegedly committed.”

Mr. Vance continued, saying that the attacks on President Trump were “not about the law” and “not about justice,” rather a distraction from the “failed record” of President Joe Biden.

“So what they’re doing is putting these trials out there and saying, focus on this, not on the fact that the world is on fire,” Mr. Vance added.

He also posted on social media platform X from the courthouse on Monday, saying the “dingy court house” prevented Presdient Trump’s supporters from getting “too close” and his friends were also prevented from “standing too close to him.”

“The president is expected to sit here for six weeks to listen to the Michael Cohens of the world,” Mr. Vance said in a post. “I’m now convinced the main goal of this trial is psychological torture. But Trump is in great spirits.”

Mr. Vance also said that media reports that President Trump appeared like he was falling asleep in court was an “absurd narrative.”

“I’m 39 years old and I’ve been here,” Mr. Vance wrote. “Cohen can’t remember how old his son is or how old he was when he started to work for Trump but I’m sure he remembers extremely small details from years ago! Michael Cohen admitting he secretly recorded his employer. Just totally normal conduct, right? The best part is he said he did it only once and only for Trump’s benefit. A standup guy!”

Mr. Vance has praised the former president in other television interviews this year, telling ABC News in February that if he had been his vice president in President Trump’s administration, he would have done the opposite of then-Vice President Mike Pence and considered alternate slates of electors before certifying the 2020 election.

In his Sunday interview on CNN, he also defended President Trump’s direct communication style, particularly regarding the former president’s comments about the shame Jewish Biden voters should feel.

“We have to remember, Donald Trump is very direct here and he hasn’t singled out Jewish Americans,” Mr. Vance said. “He singled out a lot of people for voting for Joe Biden.”