JD Vance officially accepts VP nomination, promises to help restore American dream alongside Trump: 'A night of hope'

Sen. JD Vance officially accepted the Republican Party's vice presidential nomination on Wednesday.

In a rousing keynote address that closed out the third day of the Republican National Convention, Vance recounted the powerful story of his hardscrabble upbringing, connecting it to the "Make America Great Again" agenda and Trump's promise to restore the American dream.

'When I walk into that White House to help President Trump, I will be doing it for you, for your family, for your future, and for this great country.'

"Tonight is a night of hope — a celebration of what America once was and, with God’s grace, what it will soon be again," Vance said.

"And it is a reminder of the sacred duty that we have to preserve the American experiment, to choose a new path for our children and grandchildren," he said.

Throughout the speech, Vance repeatedly criticized President Joe Biden for being a career politician whose policies have only made America "weaker and poorer."

The solution, Vance argued, is Trump's "America First" policies.

"Joe Biden has been a politician in Washington for longer than I've been alive," Vance said. "For half a century, he's been the champion of every major policy initiative to make America weaker and poorer.

"In four short years, Donald Trump reversed decades of betrayals inflicted by Joe Biden and the rest of the corrupt Washington insiders," he continued. "Just imagine what he's gonna do when we give him four more years!"

The promise Vance offered is simple: Trump is going to fight for the working man, and he will put Americans first.

With Trump in office, Vance promised there will be an economy that works for all Americans. He promised the border and immigration crises will be solved. He pledged that American manufacturing will be restored. He pledged a solution to the opioid crisis. And he pledged an end to the ruling class cashing checks on the backs of hard-working Americans.

Most importantly, Vance promised to serve Americans each and every day he shows up to work.

"I pledge to every American — no matter your party — I will give everything I have to serve you and to make this country a place where every dream you have for yourself, your family, and your country will be possible once again," Vance promised. "And I promise you one more thing — to the people of Middletown, Ohio, and all the forgotten communities in Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and every corner of our nation — I promise you this: I will be a vice president who never forgets where he came from."

"And every single day for the next four years, when I walk into that White House to help President Trump, I will be doing it for you, for your family, for your future, and for this great country," he pledged.

Republicans believe that Vance's story in particular resonates with blue-collar and rural Americans, those forgotten by the coastal elites and ruling class.

"People feel like Washington’s forgotten about them. That’s JD Vance, his family. Those are people across this country, who, like his family, suffered from drug addiction, suffered poverty," former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) told NBC News. "And I think that’s going to be compelling — to say that this is someone who can relate to the kind of people that Donald Trump is standing up for."

If Vance's story connects with voters who feel forgotten, Republicans believe Vance will help them secure victories in the Rust Belt, states critical to winning the White House.

"He's going to connect so well with these states that are so important in this upcoming election — Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan," said Republican congressional candidate Riley Moore (W-Va.). "He represents those kinds of values and a lot of those struggles that he went through."

If elected, Vance will become the third-youngest vice president in U.S. history. He will also become the first Millennial to hold the office.

The theme of the third night of the convention was "Make America Strong Again," promoting the Republican Party's vision for national security and foreign policy while slamming President Joe Biden’s handling of these important issues.

In addition to Vance, speakers included Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, Donald Trump Jr., Rep. Brian Mast (Fla.), Rep. Nancy Mace (S.C.), Rep. Ronny Jackson (Texas), North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Kellyanne Conway, and the family members of the American soldiers who died during Biden's disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal.

Trump will address the convention on Thursday when he formally accepts the Republican Party's presidential nomination.

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