Vance to campaign in Westmoreland County

Former U.S. President Donald Trump and Ohio Republican U.S. Senator JD Vance. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images.)

U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), the Republican Party’s candidate for vice president, will return to Pennsylvania to deliver remarks in New Kensington on Thursday morning.

“The United States military is facing unprecedented recruiting difficulties because of the dangerously liberal Harris-Biden Administration,” according to a press release from former President Donald Trump’s campaign. “For the last three and a half years, Kamala Harris and Joe Biden have been more focused on promoting their woke agenda in the military rather than ensuring success on the battlefield.

Vance, a Marine veteran, is slated to be joined by U.S. Reps. Jim Banks (R-Indiana), Brian Mast (R-Florida), and Michael Waltz (R-Florida). All three are also military veterans.

The presidential campaign of Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris responded by linking the Trump-Vance ticket to “Project 2025,” the conservative Heritage Foundation’s blueprint for a Republican presidential administration.

“Now, Trump and Vance’s extreme Project 2025 agenda would slash veterans’ hard-earned benefits and health care,” said Onotse Omoyeni, Pennsylvania Rapid Response director for Harris for President. “Vice President Harris and (running mate) Governor (Tim) Walz believe we should thank those who served our country, not belittle them – that’s why they’ll always fight to make sure our veterans and military families get the benefits and respect they have earned and deserve.”

Thursday will be Vance’s second visit in the Keystone State since being named Trump’s running mate. His previous visit was in Philadelphia on Aug. 6.

Trump will also make his way to the state Saturday for a rally in Wilkes-Barre , which will be the GOP presidential nominee’s seventh visit.

Vance’s stop Thursday in western Pennsylvania will be in a Republican region of the commonwealth. Despite losing Pennsylvania in 2020, Trump won Westmoreland County, which is home to New Kensington, by 28 points over the Joe Biden-Kamala Harris ticket.