There has been growing speculation for some time now about who former President Donald Trump will select as his running mate. The finalists looked to be Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), and Gov. Doug Burgum (R-ND), but as of Monday afternoon, it's being reported that Rubio and Burgum are out - so that leaves Vance, unless Trump picks someone who hasn't been reported to be on the short list.

There have been signs Monday that Vance is the pick. As reported earlier, Trump's son, Don Jr., revealed that he would like to see Vance on Trump's ticket, and it was announced that Jr. will speak on Wednesday, right before introducing the VP pick. 

East Palestine, Ohio, Mayor Trent Conway will also speak at the Republican National Convention on Wednesday. 

Visited a local creek in East Palestine today. These waterways are still very polluted. It’s time for Norfolk Southern to finish the cleanup. Check this video out: pic.twitter.com/4lsHBmrMJj

— J.D. Vance (@JDVance1) February 16, 2023

It was also reported that Vance departed his home on Monday morning to head to the convention in a Motorcade. 

Sen JD Vance departs home in Motorcade reports Forbes

— Martha MacCallum (@marthamaccallum) July 15, 2024

There were also reports of extra security at Vance's home and speculation that it was being provided by the US Secret Service, but we've since learned that the security was approved by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine.

Extra security outside home of Senator JD Vance - reports FOX8 approved by Gov DeWine / ATF and State Highway Patrol not USSS

— Martha MacCallum (@marthamaccallum) July 15, 2024

Given how Vance has been vilified by the liberal media since Saturday's assassination attempt on Donald Trump, it's not surprising that he would have extra security at his home.

If Trump picks Vance, the GOP senate seat will be left vacant; however, DeWine (R-OH) will select Vance's replacement, so the Republicans will not lose that seat to a Democrat.

When asked about potentially becoming Trump's VP, Vance said:

I care a lot about national defense, I care a lot about whether the troops have what they need to fight. I care a lot about, frankly, whether when we ask our kids to go to war, we ought to make sure it's for the right reasons. And so you definitely think about those things, maybe a little bit differently, as a U.S. Marine.

Vice President Kamala Harris' former communications director, Ashley Etienne, was asked who the "greatest threat" would be during the VP debate. Etienne told CNN:

I think JD Vance would pose the greatest threat [to] Kamala Harris, in some respects. I mean, he's an incredible debater. I think he has this quality that makes him seem palpable to that one to two percent that actually might vote or that is undecided, that will actually pay attention to the debates because most people don't pay attention to the debates.

Kamala Harris’s former Comms director, Ashley Etienne, says she thinks JD Vance “would pose the greatest threat” to Harris in a VP debate

Comes as Trump and his team are considering how each prospective running mate would fare on a debate stage with the VP pic.twitter.com/pSxJEFOHAw

— Alayna Treene (@alaynatreene) June 17, 2024

Of course, Vance's past comments about Trump would brought up by the media, but Trump had this to say about it in 2022:

"He's a guy that said some bad shit about me. He did. He did. But you know what? Every one of the others did also. In fact if I went by that standard I don't think I would have ever endorsed anybody in the country," said Trump introducing Vance. "Ultimately I put that aside." pic.twitter.com/Op5y41XmTC

— Caleb Howe (@CalebHowe) April 23, 2022

When Fox News anchor Bret Baier asked Vance about the comments he made in 2016, Vance said:

Look, I was wrong about Donald Trump. I didn’t think he was gonna be a good president, Bret. He was a great president. And it’s one of the reasons why I’m working so hard to make sure he gets a second term.

Trump is set to announce his VP pick Monday afternoon, according to Fox News.