J.D. Vance joins Trump for first time as running mate at Michigan campaign rally as supporters reveal their thoughts on him as VP nominee

J.D. Vance received a thunderous standing ovation from the MAGA supporters packing the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, MI on Saturday as he made his debut on the campaign trail as Donald Trump's running mate. 

He used his appearance to introduce himself to Republican voters with less than four months to go until election day and go on the attack against his opponent Vice President Kamala Harris. 

'What a cool thing it was to be asked by President Trump's running mate and get out there on the campaign trail,' Vance said kicking off his remarks. 

'There's some bad news actually. The Vice President Kamala Harris, she doesn't like me,' he said, launching his own line of attacks that can be expected in the months to come between now and Election Day. 

Vance accused Harris of claiming he has 'no loyalty' to the country before touting his time in the Marine Corps. He also slammed her work in the Biden administration on the border.  

 'She did serve as the border czar during the biggest disaster, open border we've ever had in this country,' he claimed. 'Let's get President Trump back there, close down this border and bring back some common sense of security to this country,' he said. 

The event in Grand Rapids, Michigan was the first campaign rally Vance has appeared at since he joined the GOP ticket. The Ohio senator spoke just hours before Trump was set to take the stage as well. 

'We have never had an election where you have four years of one guy, four years of the other guy, and who could possibly reject the idea that four and a half years President Trump has been a hell of a lot better than four years of Joe Biden,' Vance said.

Trump named the conservative Ohio senator, veteran and best-selling author as his running mate on Monday afternoon during the Republican National Convention after months of speculation over who he would pick as his number two. 

The one-time Trump critic turned ardent supporter officially accepted the Republican vice presidential nomination at the convention in Milwaukee, WI on Wednesday night. 

He's now working to introduce himself to Trump supporters and Independent voters with less than four months until election day. 

Some Republican officials told DailyMail.com that they see the 39-year-old MAGA favorite as a good choice to bring in young conservatives and as someone who could help the ticket erode the so-called blue wall in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. 

But many Trump supporters in Grand Rapids were still getting to know about the Ohio native and former venture capitalist who was only elected to the Senate less than two years ago. 

Those who knew of him were mostly familiar with his book 'Hillbilly Elegy' or had seen the 2020 Ron Howard movie based off it by the same name.

'At first I didn't know until he gave his speech, and I learned a little bit,' said Denise Cook who drove to Grand Rapids from Portage, Indiana. 

'I'd already seen Hillbilly Elegy, and I just know I thought he was kind of young, but after watching his speech, he spoke so eloquently,' she said, pointing to his convention acceptance speech on Wednesday. 

Gregory McPherson from Traverse City, MI was also familiar with Vance because of his book.

'I think it's perfect,' he said of Trump's choice. 'I've followed J.D. Vance ever since his book came out and I believe he's the strong American, believes in America and just the strength of what we can all be together.' 

Denise Bontembo from Battle Creek, MI called Trump choosing Vance fantastic. 

'I'm from Ohio, he's from Ohio. I'm an Ohio state fan, and I'm a marine,'  she explained. 

'He's young, that will revitalize the party,' she added. 

'I wasn't really familiar with him. However, what I do know about him I do like,' said Ben Casarez. 'I like the fact that he could probably move forward in four more years. I think that there's nothing that they can really dig up on him, but we need to keep this Trump thing moving.'

'I think it's very interesting. He wasn't on my radar. I know that he had been talked about. I had my picks that I wanted, but I'm happy with J.D. Vance,' said Lisa Donlin from Kalamazoo.  

Ahead of the Trump rally in Michigan, the Biden campaign held a call where it slammed the former president and Ohio senator's visit to the state. 

'If there are two things we know about Michigan voters: it's first, they don't like Buckeyes, and they don't like politicians who want to rip away their reproductive freedom and JD Vance is both,' said Democratic Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow, noting the senator's anti-abortion record.