In his third consecutive presidential campaign, former US President Donald Trump has formally claimed the Republican nomination for 2024 contest. With the support of most delegates at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Trump solidified his position as the party's nominee.

Unexpectedly, Trump declared that J.D. Vance, the best-selling memoirist "Hillbilly Elegy" and a longtime Trump opponent, would be his running mate in the 2024 race. Ohio senator Vance, a first-term Republican, had previously criticized Trump's policies and rhetoric, but he has since made amends with the former president and become a vocal admirer.

Vance's choice to be Trump's vice presidential nominee is perceived as an effort to increase the Republican ticket's appeal, especially among independents and moderates. In the next race, Vance's personal history and his affinity for Rust Belt working-class voters are seen as significant advantages.

Legal Controversies and Supreme Court Intervention

Trump's nomination is made despite ongoing legal challenges and a recent attempt on his life at a Pennsylvania campaign rally, during which a gunman's bullet wounded him in the ear. Unfazed, the former president showed up at the convention with a bandage over his head and made a strong address promising to "unite our nation" and confront the "horrible administration" of Joe Biden, the president of the United States.

Republican Nomination for 2024
Image Source: National Geographic Kids

There was some controversy around Trump's nominating process. Several states contested his right to run, and courts in Colorado, Maine, and Illinois determined that he was ineligible because of his involvement in the attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. But in the end, the Supreme Court reversed these rulings, paving the path for Trump's candidacy.

The Republican convention's schedule is intended to be more on common concerns and Trump's proposals to assist middle-class Americans than it is about harping on the past or making threats of violence. The party has also amended its program, emphasizing the need to stay away from contentious matters like abortion.

There were conflicting feelings between Donald Trump and India throughout his first presidential term. On the one hand, he developed a close personal relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the two men regularly exchanged compliments and hosted high-profile gatherings such as the Houston "Howdy, Modi!" rally. Additionally, Trump designated India as a key defense partner and backed India's application for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council to deepen US-Indian ties.

Usha Chilukuri Vance: Influence of Hindu Heritage

Usha Chilukuri Vance, JD Vance's wife, was raised in a Hindu Household in the San Diego, California, suburbs after her parents immigrated from India. Usha claimed that "one of the things that made them such good parents and good people" was their religious views, indicating that her childhood was greatly influenced by her parents' Hindu faith and values. Because of her Hindu heritage and the "power of that" in her own life, Usha was able to help her husband JD Vance in his spiritual search to reaffirm his Christian faith.

With Trump's nomination, there may be a rematch with Democratic nominee Joe Biden, who is anticipated to win despite growing doubts about his mental health and capacity for office. The two old opponents are running against each other again in the 2024 election, which is expected to be a high-stakes contest for the nation's future.

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